Waiapu Church Gazette. Monday, January 2nd, 1922. THE "CHURCH GAZETTE."

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XII, Issue 7, 2 January 1922, Page 338

Waiapu Church Gazette. Monday, January 2nd, 1922. THE " CHURCH GAZETTE."

A CONFIDENTIAL TALK. After making preparation for the "Gazette" to be published early this month, and when, already, some portion was m type, the Editor received a message from the Diocesan Secretary to the effect that the Finance Committee had met and decided that Diocesan expenses must be drastically curtailed and that, possibly, the "Gazette" would have to cease publication. Nearly a fortnight passed before a meeting of the Standing Committee could be obtained to de--cide what to do m the present financial crisis m the Diocese. The Standing Committee agreed that to suspend publication would be disastrous; so we breathe freely once more. However, owing to the Christmas holidays, unless we can publish on Christmas Eve the "Gazette" will not come out till nearly the middle of January, We are therefore rushing through the present issue. It has been found necessary, however, to deal firmly with the question of nonpaying subscribers. It seems strange that the requirements of ordinary commercial honesty should not appeal to the consciences o,f parishes m the matter of the ' ' Gazette. "■ _ It is obvious that it is impossible for the Diocesan Office to eolleet 1500 subscriptions of 3s each. Surely ea<?h parish should recognise- that it is but a. small, thing to ask the vestry to arrange for the collection of the subscriptions" due from . parishioners. . The "Gazette" aims at helping the Work of Vicars and Church war dens • by the dissemination of sound teaching and Church news, and by emphasising the needs both of the parish and the Diocese. The narrow spirit of parochialism which ignores the •fact that the parish is but a part of the Diocese, and the Diocese a part of the whole Church, is utterly for- ; eign to the spirit of . Christianity.

No parish can live to itself, it's life depends upon- the life of the Diocese; the Diocese must have its Bishop, its Synod, its committees, "its organisers, and' its Central Fund, and its organ of communication. It is strange that the parishes which are : most narrowly parochial are usually those who depend most upon support from the Diocesan funds. The Diocesan "Gazette" is, next to the Bishop, the chief connecting link- -between the parishes. Can we. afford, to -be without it? We claim that every Churchman should . subscribe to the ' ' Gazette, '. ' and every Vestry should be responsible that the subscriptions are duly collected. If the number of our subscribers could- be doubled, and if every Churchman paid honestly for his Church paper, the "Gazette" might be largely increased m size, improved m matter, and made much more useful to both the parish and the Diocese. As it is, the "Gazette" would be almost self-supporting if all subscribers paid up. There are nine parishes which have not yet paid for "Gazettes" for 1920! v There are eighteen parishes which have not yet paid for "Gazettes" for 1921 ! Yet the printer has to be paid, the "Churchman" has to be paid for, the postages have already been paid. We owe the printer at the present moment about £80 and the • " Churchman about £40. Against this there is the sum of £41 3s owing from subscribers for' 1920, and £107 17s owing from subscribers for 1921. If the- printer 's bills and those of th§ " Churchman are to be met when they are presented, it is obvious that subscriptions must be received m advance. The Diocese has no capital fund for the "Gazette" out of which to advance the payments; they must come out of current income. We ask each reader : "Have you paid your subscription to date? If. not, please pay it to the Churchwarden of the parish, and ask him to see that it. is forwarded to the Diocesan Secretary. Secondly: Will you help the parish, the Diocese and the Standing Committee by getting a new subscriber? Thing ;how much more useful the "Gazette" might be made if every Churchman m the Diocese became a subscriber. We have cut off "deadheads" and reduced the number of subscribers to 1350. If the number is riiuch further diminished the cost per copy will rise, so that we cannot supply it at' the present rate. If the number increases to 1600 or more, it may be possible either to reduce the price 'or enlarge the paper.- Will you help? If you have any suggestions for improvement send them along. We will do our best.

Re posted copies, the loss, owing to!the rise m the postage ratej, during the past, year has been 6d per annum per : posted copy. The cost of wrappers) addressing etc., has been another 7d peri, annum per Copy. The Diocese, at the present time, cannot stand this loss, so, m future, all copies will be sent m parcels to the Vicars. You, can help your Vicar m the distribution of the " Gazettes ' ' by calling for your own arid- arranging to deliver copies to others. The districts of Tolaga Bay and Waipiro Bay are not served by a central post office. An exception is therefore being made m their case and "Gazettes" •will be posted from the Diocesan Office to subscribers m these districts at 4s per annum. The ordinary "subscription remains at 3s per annum. Every, copy of the "Churchman" costs the Diocese one shilling per annum, and as the circulation fluctuates we have to get a few extra copies (above our circulation number) to provide for the fluctuation. The "Gazette" itself, therefore, costs you only 2s per annum.' The "Churchman" costs less because of its very large circulation. Subscribers outside the Diocese will be charged 4s : per annum for .posted copies, and are asked to send their subscriptions m advance and - save the Diocese the expense of sending out accounts.