MISSION FINANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 15

MISSION FINANCE

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MAORI FUND DEFICIT STAFF' APPOINTMENTS Financial figures for the mission work of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church during the year ended June 30 l were presented to the monthly meetinc of the missions committee of the church, held in Auckland • this week. The estimated expenditure for the voar was £37.619 and the actual expenditure £37,8-10. The givings of congregations toward mission objects half increased by C2OOO, but they still fell short by fully £7OOO of the amount required. Unrestricted legacies totalling nearly £6OOO had come to hand, and that enabled the committee to begin tho year with the foreign mission and home mission funds practically clear, but there was a deficit accumulated over a number of years of about £6OOO in the Maori mission fund. It was decided to" approve the proposal to ask tho church at large for a special donation of £6OOO to clear off the liability. Home Mission Transfers The committee decided to transfer Mr. W. J. Berry, home missionary, from the Palmerston North outfields to Upper Aramoho, and to transfer Mr. H. J. Crawford, student in charge at Humia, to the Palmerston North outfields. The term of the Rev. S. W. Webber at West port is ti> lie extended for a further two years. Among the appointments of theological students for the summer were those of Mr. R. F. Judson, to Kaitaia, and Mr. A. Lowden, to Ruawai. Sister Mary Lowrie was appointed to assist in,, the Maori mission work at the Te Teko station. It was decided to ask the authority of Assembly to ordain Miss E. I. Davidson, of Mosgiel, at present at Ruatahuna, as a deaconness for work among the Maoris. It was decided to ask Presbyteries to arrange during next year for retreats or summer schools for home missionaries and ministers. Presbyteries and moderators of home mission stations are to be asked to see that home missionaries are allowed at least three Sundays' holiday in each year. Request irom Chinese It was reported that the Rev. Y. S. Chan, of Auckland, in association with the Rev. J. McKenzie, tho Rev. A. L. Miller, and the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson, all formerly missionaries in Canton, had been conducting a week's mission among the Chinese in Dunedin. As a result of the mission an appeal has come from the session of the Chinese church in Dunedin for the appointment of a regular agent of the church to work among the Chinese of the South Island. Inquiries are to be made regarding the possibility of establishing a home in New Zealand... for the children of missionaries to enable them to be educated here.