METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1386, 12 March 1912, Page 6

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(Bj Telceranh.—Prc«» inseolatloa.l Auckland, March 11. The Methodist Conference has received the following reply from General Godley in answer to its resolution on the subject:—"Am issuing instructions to endeavour to obviate tho necessity r.o strike military camps or travelling on Sundays." The reply was received with warm expressions of approval. Tho balance-sheet of the Wellington Education Trust- shows the receipts to bo JCII,GI(> tis. Id. Thero is a balance to credit of £3 17s. The Rev. T. C. Brooke, organising soc- , retary of tho Homo Mission executive, submitted the Homo Missionaries superannuation scheme, and recommended that tho conference should appoint a special committee to consider the same, and after placing tho matter before the quarterly meetings of tho Homo Mission stations, to report their recommendations to next conference. The fund will be provided by contributing to the Government National Provident Fund, and the scale of contributions shall be such as will entitle eich Homo Missionary of a suitable ago to receive a pension "of 20s. per week at the a"0 of CO. All homo missionaries under the age of 3G years shall bo required to becomo contributors to the superannuation fund. A Dunedin committee, consisting of the Revs. P. W. Fnirclough, W. Slade, F. B: Brooke (Homo Mission secretary), Messrs. E. R-oseveare (convenor), J. C Stevens, and J. B. Shacklock, was appointed to consider the proposal and prepare a scheme. A cablegram from tho Foreign Mission Board at Sydney askine for volunteers for services in'the . South Sea Islands mission field was read. The Rev. T. G. Hammond stated that the Rov. M. Kirkwood, Maori probationer of two years' standing, had expressed his desire to undertake woik as a missionary- ft was decided that Mr. Kirkwood's offer bo sent to tho board at Sydney. . . . . The question of Maori missions was discussed at some length, various recommendations being read. The Wang.inui Synod recommended, "That the conference bo requested to bring before the Government tho urgent need of making provision for the registration of births and deaths of Maori people, and so remove an injustice under which thes? people are living." Evontually a resolution was passed refcrrins the matter to the mission committee. Tho committee appointed in connection with the proposed Theological College at Epsom reported that they had gone into the question, and recommended that tho matter should be referred to the Auckland committee. Tho recommendation was adopted, and Mr. A. C. Cnughey was appointed treasurer. It was also, decided that district committees bo appointed. Mr. J. A. Flosher reported that in all the States in Australia, with tho exception of West Australia, Bills authorising tho reparation of the New Zealand vjhnreh from tho Church of Australasia Mil been nnssed. The probable cost would be .£230. The Bill in West Australia would probably be passed this year. Conference passed a resolution thanking Mr. Flosher and the committee for the work done in this matter. It was al?o reported that valuable assistance had been rendered by members of the Governments in tho various States and by Sir .1. G. Ward and Sir John Findlay in New fcaland.