MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 10

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

AND ITS MISSIONED AX Cr/'ICIAL STATEMENT. Tint following statement,-road at a meeting of the Missions to Seamen in in Wellington on Wednesday by Mr. C. I'. Pawios, the secretary, reviews the history of the difficulty which recently arosn over the appointment of Missiouer. "Mr. Moore broko down in health and went Home on .furlough, the Homo Committer- during his furlough paying him e,t the rate of £100 a year. He consulted doctors, who, at a certain stage of his illness, told him that lie must not return to Xew Zealand to take up his work again. He then resigned "his/ position as missiouer at tills port, and Mr. Shell, who had be-on appointed by the London Committee us locum tenens during 3lr. Moore's leave of absence, was definitely appointed to succeed him. Mr, Moore, as scon after his resignation of this post as his health permitted, was appointed by tiie London Committee to some work at Homo. Later, he, feeling himself recovered, sought for appointment to Wellington, but the place was occupied by Mr. Shell, who had been permanently appointed. Of this Mr. Moore, was aware. At a- later date the Wellington Committee decided that if a vacancy o> ciirred iu ordinary they would recommend iiim for reappointment, hut this decision did not reach him till he arrived here, owing to his niccinitato aetion in coming out. Mr. 'Shell's health failed, and Mr. Cocks'was appointed in his place. Mr. Moore, was told by the society's secretary in London that if he came out hero under the circumstances ho would sever his connection with the society; that they could iwt displace Mr, Cocks. Notwithstanding this, lie came, and on arrival made application to the local committee to be recommended for reappointment, saying that another place eoukl easily bo found for Mr. Cocks. Tho committee could not sec their way to comply with his readiest, and then Mrs. Williams took action in the Supreme Court to haie put into the deed of trust, under which the building is held, words giving Mr.'Moore a.life tenure of the building, an! giving the trustees tho right of approval of the missiouer, which she said should have been iu the deed, having been in the first draft of it. She. won her case as far as the right of approval, hut not as to Mr. Moore's position, that having been abandoned by her counsel as untenable. Neither the Wellington Committee nor the Londpii Committee knew of the existence, of the clause in the draft deed of trust giving the trustees such power of approval, but relied on the deed as actually executed. It is hardly to he. conceived that the London Committee, if it had known of such power being likelv to be exercised by the trustees, would have accepted the use ol the building, as it could not have had its missioners under two masters, itself and the trustees. Now tho trustees have written to our counsel baldly stating that they disapprove of Mr. Cocks, without assigning any reason other than their wl. to have, Mr. Moore reinstated. Mrs. Williams assisted in the welcome to Mr. Cooks, and has expressed her approval-of ln.n. The London Committee, in which a lon o vests the power of appointment of raissioners, has bad the whole matter fully placed before it, evidence submitted in the Supreme Court, tho iudgment thereon, etc., and on being, informed of tho disapproval or Mr. Cocks and tho fact that the trustees <ravo us notice to quit in ten days cabled to us to appeal against the judgment given by the Chief Justice. 7ho committee hero fully recognises tho pond wprk done by Mr. Moore, but for, whom it .would probably not have had the present building to work in; but it cannot condone the action taken by him in enmiuf out here in de/puce of tho. London Committee, and with the nurprise of ousting Mr. Cocks. Fiirt.ie-r, the London Committee, the appointing body, has said that it cannot reappoint Mr.' Moore, owing to_ his having come, out pirninst t«eir wish. The local committee has had a most trying lime, and finds many of their supnorters holding bnck until they sea what is going to be the result of tho Supreme Court action, wishinn- their M'bscrmUnns to lie for the benefit of the Mission under. Mr. Cocks's management. The committee has hitherto had a diflieultv in sneaking out, the, matter being stij! sub judice'. but we think wo may now state the facts-of the ease a.s above, and ask our supunrters to rrivo us their countenance and help ns financially," Mr. Cocks p.nid that since taking up work in Wellington ho had paid 518 visits to shins, and bad not met with a single rebuff.' While the attendance of sbnr* people at the Mission services had fallen away somewhat, the atf"iidEfice of seamen had increased. In n vo.nr -18?'6 letters to heam»n bad been written in the institute. s?>iU had been received, and 099 readdressed.