THE WAIKATO DIOCESE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1928, Page 11

THE WAIKATO DIOCESE

DEFICIT .feHO'WN FOR YEA®, Hamilton, June 19. A deficit ei £1865 8s fid is disclosed in the annual report of the standing committee of the Waikato Diocese, to be submitted to the third Waikato Diocesan Synod, which meets in Hamilton on July 2. The committee -states the amount of the deficit is a large sum. The initial organisation of any new diocese wag bound to be eostly and the deficit might be substantially increased before the diocese was fairly stabilised. Church people were urged to carry their due share of the burden. The commitments of the diocese were heavy, said the committee, but if the Clnwch was to do its work adequately the commitments were essential and the money must be found. New parochial districts had been formed at Kawhia and Piopio. New districts were also contemplated at Douglas (Taranaki) and Ngaruawahia. The two large parochial districts at Taumarunui and Te Kujti had been endeavouring to convert their leasehold church properties into freehold, and heavy expense had been incurred in the process. It was thought that special diocesan grants should be made to these districts to relieve the strain.

Grants totalling £7OB had been made toward stipends in nine scattered and remote parochial districts. Four Maori priests, one deacon, and two lady workers were employed in the Maori Mission. Offerings for the mission had totalled £450, and special collections had been very gratifying. Grants had been made by the Williams trust. The Maori Mission, in spite of its much-increased expense, was described as being by far the most financially prosperous organisation in the diocese. The committee referred to the establishment of a diocesan girls’ school at Hamilton and ’ expressed the hope that, before long the school would be housed in new buildings on a site of 10 acres, which had been made available through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. O, R. Farcer. Pupils in th© school numbered 83, being insufficient to make ends meet, and an appeal was made for financial support for the institution.

Plans had been prepared for the erection of additions to the cathedral, and these had been submitted to an ecclesiastical architect for criticism and advice. The Whole building was not likely to be actually completed fcr many years,

but every addition or alteration would be a step to wards the .completed strue-

With a view to putting th© diocesan and parochial finances on a better footing Mr. F. Harris, of Huntly, had been appointed to organise the finances of the parishes so that they would be In a position to assist the -diocese as well a s themselves. It was too early to submit a report cm Mr, Harris’ work.