ISLAND MISSION WORE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 9

ISLAND MISSION WORE

REVENUE. AFFECTED BY THE WAR. . ' Mr. C. M. Luke has just returned from a visit to Melbourne, where he sat as the New_ Zealand representative of the Methodist 'Foreign Missions Board of Australasia. This board controls the work of the Methodist missionaries in .the whole of the South Pacific Islands, which account for the expenditure of a sum that averages about £48,000 per annum. It was stated at the meeting, that the expenditure'for the past yew was in excess of the revenue. There would be no very serious difficulty in making'up the deficiency, but some anxiety had been expressed that funds might be short : this year owing to-the war. and the many demands wnich had been made upon the public in that conThere was a fear that their offorts in the missionary field u.Sght have to be relaxed, a contingency that was viewed with intense regret, but owing to a splendid organisation and the self-denial of the missionaries and officers of the Board (who had volunteered to accept a 10 per cent, reduction off their salaries), and with the help of the public of Australasia it is hoped that the needs of the missionaries will be met.