PRESBYTERIANISM IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 39

PRESBYTERIANISM IN NEW ZEALAND.

Some interesting statistics regarding the Presbyterian community of New Zealand were quoted at the meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery on Tuesday morning (says the Chriatchurch Press). The Rev. R. Wood had given notice of motion, "That the Revs.'J. Craig. T. Miller, C. Murray, and the mover be appointed a committee to consider the question of Church extension in the Presbytery." In moving; his motion Mr Wood said that the results of the census of last year, bearing on the religions of the people, furnished information that should be helpful to all denominations as a guide in Church extension. The fieuves bearing on Presbyterianism were as follows: —In April last the Presbyterian population numbered 234,662. an increase'of 31,000 over 1906 census figures. The Presbyterian increase in the North Island was remarkable. In 1906 the Presbyterian, population in the North Island was 79.459, and last year it- was 99.153, an increase of nearly 20.000. In Otago. which was supposed to be the citadel of Presbyterianism, the Presbvterian population in 1906 was 82,117. Last year it had risen to 88.218. an increase of only 6000 or eo. In Canterbury the Presbyterian population was 31,434, but by last year it had only increased to 35.150, an increase of 3656. The complete results of the census had not yet been published by the fJovernmenfc, but wh«~i they were published they would very likely show, as tlicv did in the 1906 census, that the Presbyterian Church, though by no means the largest section of the Christian Church in the land, as regards population, occupied the premier place as regarded Church attendance. But when the farts were carefully studied they showed tbit there was a great part of the Presbyterian Church lacking in regard to Church attendance. The census figures showed an increase of 31.000 over that of 1906, but the increase in Church attendance was less than 6000, as in 1906 the attendance was 69.471. and last year it only rose to 75,320. ' The figures bearing on Canterbury were quite as disquieting as those bearing on the whole Dominion. In five years the Presbvterian census increase had not been great, only 3656 (the explanation of the small incr-ase being that there had been an exodus north and south, where new lands ha 1 been thrown open fur settlement), but still there had been an increase, and yet the Church attendance was less than it was five years ago, according to the figures in the blue books. In 1906 in Christchurc'.i and Timaru Presbyteries, covering Canterbury province. Church attendance had amounted to 12.085, whilst last year it had amounted only to 11.877. There was a clear call for them to look into the matter, and try and find out if those figures were to bo trusted, and where t-a leakage was. It was the duty of every Presbvtery in N_ v Zealand to go into the matter. The motion was carried, and the committee formally appointed.