IMPORTANT QUESTION

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 12

IMPORTANT QUESTION

EFFECT OF LOW STIPENDS. STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP AVERILL. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 11. The fear that low stipends paid to many of the clergy was likely to interfere seriously with the spiritual value of the work, was expressed by Archbishop Averill in charge of the Auckland Diocesan Synod. The question was of vital importance to the diocese as the standard of stipends was below that in other dioceses in New Zealand. The inevitable result was that they could not hope to secure and retain the services of a really efficient body of clergy when more adequate living could be obtained elsewhere. Assistance now offered by the central fund was saving the diocese from disgrace and many of the clergy from semistarvation. An amending Bill was later introduced providing for the minimum stipend of £350 with free house and travelling expenses. After a discussion it was decided that the minimum stipend should be raised from £250 to £3OO and the bill as amended, was read a first time.