PRESBYTERIAN HOME MISSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1287, 16 November 1911, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN HOME MISSIONS.

A WARM DEBATE. (By Telccrnmu.—Press Association.! Dunedin, November 15. The Presbyterian Assembly to-day eon* ridered tho financial regulations of the Home': Mission department submitted by Br. Gibb. ■ Tho Bey. P. B. Fraser, in supporting tho clause making a minimum salary of .£125 for homo missionaries, spoko very strongly about under-payment of some agents of the Church. The regulation was adopted with a slight amendment. Dr. Gibb then moTcd that tho regulations bo sent to (ho presbyteries for consideration, tho latter to report to tho •Northern Homo Slission Committee by June, 1012, and until tho matter is finally disposed of by next Assembly tho committee to operate tho scheme as far as possible in accordance with tho regulations. The Rev. Mr. Piulaysou challougcd tho competency of tho motion becauso it introduced fresh legislation without reference, to the presbyteries. Tho Sloderator ruled that tho motion was not competent. Dr. Gibb moved that tho Moderator's ruling bo disagreed with. A show of hands proved uneoncltisivo, and tho roll was called, the result being that Dr. Gibb's motion was lost by 70 votes to C 9. Dr. Gibb. then warmly declared that ho could do no more about it. He asserted that most of tho 70 had not a. ghost of a notion what they were doing. In his opinion tho whole business had teen stultified. Dr. Gibb's remarks caused a great deal of interruption and dissent, and the Modorator remarked, "When you withdraw tho rcferciioo you mado to tho house, I think tho houso will bo willing to listen to you." Dr. Gibb: What reference did 1 makoP Tho Moderator: You made o, reference, that was anything bnt Parliamentary. It is not necessary that I should repeat it. Dr. Gibb then withdrew. The discussion was earned on till 1.40 p.m., and an adjournment was thcu made. At 2.30 Dr. Gibb took the platform, and it was then ascertained that it was only the proposal that tho Home Missions Committee should operate tho scheme that was declared incompetent. The motion, with this proposal deleted, was carried.