DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 8

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

TWENTY-FOURTH SYNOD YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS The twenty-fourth Synod of the Diocese of Dunedin was continued yesterday afternoon, when Bishop W. A. 11. Fitchott presided. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT. The following report of the Standing Committee was considered in committee :

The committee issued a reminder to parishes and parochial districts to the effect that whereas clerical members of Synod have both travelling expenses and hospitality provided, lay members only receive travelling expenses, and in the opinion of the committee, parishes and parocial districts should be responsible for the boarding expenses of their Jay representatives attending Synod. Diocesan Office Board.—The committee appointed Ven. L. G. Whitehead and Mr J. T. Dawson as their representatives on the Diocesan Office Board. Messrs A. H. Allen and G. R. Ritchie were appointed by the Trust Board, and Mr W. E. Earnshaw by the Pension Board. During the year, since its constitution by Synod in 1935, two meetings df the Diocesan _ Office Board have been held. In addition to dealing with routine matters concerning salaries and hours the board agreed that the office work of the 1 Church Envoy ’ should he done in the Diocesan Office. The apportionment of the costs of the Diocesan. Office was as follows:—Trust Board, two-iifths of gross costs, provided that the total charges of the Trust Board did not exceed 7 per cent, of the trust income received. Pension Board, General Church Fund, and Orphanages £BS per annum eacli, Missionary Committee £ls per annum, balance from the assessment.

Election of Standing Committee.—A suggestion was received from the Diocese of Nelson that the Standing Committee of the diocesan Synods bo elected every three years instead of every 12 months as at present. The committee is in agreement, and a suggested amendment will be brought before Synod for consideration to-mor-row.

Woodlands. The committee approved the raising of a loan to erect a building for us© as a church at Woodlands,

Diocesan Endowment Fund. The committee reappointed the following sub-committee; —The Dean. Archdeacons Whitehead, Russell, Lush, and Button, the Rev. W. A. Hamhlett (convener), Messrs J. T. Dawson, W. E. Earnshaw, and G. R. Ritchie.

General Church Fund Grants.—A. sub-committee appointed for the purpose reported that grants must be paid to the vicar concerned. In the case of assistant curates it is desirable that the grant be part of the stipend arranged and not supplementary to it. Vestries should make the necessary arrangements for seeing that unemployment tax is not paid twice over. Elections and appointments were approved as follows:—Anglican Orphanages Committee (1935-36) —Dr E. H. dliams (chairman), the Bishop, Messrs C. W. Rattray, G. R. Ritchio, S. P. Mirams, W. C. Talboys, W. E. Earnshaw, Mesdames C. W. Birch, S. Batchelor, E. Hazlett, Miss C. Graham, and the Rev. J. N. Thompson (ex officio); Diocesan Missionary Committee—Archdeacons J. D. Russell, J. A. Lush, and A. C. H. Button, the Revs. F. V. Fisher and W. A. Hamhlett, Messrs J. Beecot, J. G. Butler, J. T, Dawson, W. D. Jenkin, and A. T. Newman. Parish and District Boundaries.—Ju order to make various necessary adjustments in the boundaries of parochial districts the Board of Nomination was appointed a Boundaries Commission to report on the matter. As the result of their proposals the following changes were ultimately made:—The parochial district of Rox-hurgh-Tapanui ceased to exist; Roxburgh and Miller’s Flat were added to Tuapeka; Clydevale-Greenfield-Tua-peka Mouth have been transferred from Tuapeka to Balclutha; Dipton has_ been transferred from Winton to Waimea Plains district. With the object of ultimately forming an assistant curacy to Gore Parish a new district has been formed, consisting of Tapanui and Waikaka. Riversdale and Waikaia (from the Waimea Plains district and Clinton from the Balclutha district). This new district is temporarily under the charge of the Rev. C. M. Newton.

The following alterations have also been made ;—Wyndham and Fortrose have been combined; Warrington has been added to Port Chalmers; Ravensbourne, Leith Valley, and Middlemarch have been combined for electoral purposes; Winton and Otautau have been combined. Bishopric of Wellington.—The committee approved the nomination of the Ven. H. St. B. Holland to be Bishop of Wellington. Casual Vacancies Fund.—The committee authorised the formation of a Casual Vacancies Fund in order to proyide for the carrying on of services during changes, sickness, or other absence of the clergy. Parochial Nominators. Notice of the appointment of parochial nominators was received from the following parishes;—All Saints’, Dunedin, Caversham, Dunstan, Gladstone, Gore, Invercargill, Oamaru, Roslvn, and St. Kilda.

Anglican Orphanages.—The committee approved the expenditure of capital on the erection of a sun room as a memorial to the late Mrs J. M. Ritchie and additional buildings for the better working of the homes. The report was adopted. The committee’s supplementary report stated :—.

Vacancies on Synod roll were filled as follow:—Oainaru, Mr S. M. Taylor; Inapeka, Mr *l. Simpson; AndeVSOUS Hay Mi- A. J. Gall; Winton and Otautau, Mr W. Grieve. Tapanui, Clinton, Riversdale, Waikaia, and Waikaka wore constituted one electoral parochial district, and Mr F. W. Knight was appointed tho synod representative. The following notifications wore receivedßalclutha byelection, Mr B. T. W. Owen was returned as synod representative; parochial nominators, St. Matthew’s Parish and St. Martin’s Parish. The Diocesan Endowment Fund Committee reported that “ some tentative promises have been made which are deemed ot sufficient value to justify the efforts of tho committee being continue!, but no donations have actually been received.” The report was adopted. PENSION BOARD. • The report of tho Dunedin Diocesan Pension Board for the year ended Juno 110, 1936. was also considered in committee. The report stated: Diocesan Office Board.—Mr W. E. Earnshaw was appointed to represent the Pension Board on tho Diocesan Office Board. Pensions.—The pensions paid fdr the year were; Clergy, £584 8s 2d; widows, £347 17s 4d; children, £ls; total, £947 5s (id. Subscriptions paid during the year woro £894 16s Id, and £l6B paid in advance; total, £1,062 56s Id.

There were no arrears at June 30, ]036. Withdrawals ami rotunds amounted to £l3O 17s Gd. The capital account of tho fund has been increased by £142 14s (surplus of income), £75 18s 2d (accident and sickness fund income), and £25 (donation), bringing the total at June 30, 1936, to £24,540 5s sd. Interest on investments for tho year amounted to £873 16s Id. During tho year a claim was made on tho insurance company in respect of Archdeacon Button, and a grant was made in respect of Bov. C. W. Foreman. The capital account of tho fund now stands at £l,lBB 3s Id, having been increased by £75 18s 2d surplus from the income account. The board decided that in cases where it is practicable, the policy should he adopted of acting under tho proviso by which the board is empowered to provide for the performance of the member’s duty; the carrying out of such duty to be arranged by the archdeacon. The report was adopted. TRUST BOARD. The report of Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board for the year ended June 30 stated: —Capital accounts have been increased by bequests and transfers from the diocese, the Diocesan Pension Board, and the Orphanages’ Committee of approximately £1,200, and tho total now administered by the hoard is £122,075. The new cathedral fund has been increased by a legacy of £IOO from the estate of Sir James Mills, and decreased by £6l from the capital of the Harrop Estate (held by the Public Trustee) owing to the income being insufficient to pay life interests. New church building funds show an increase from £2,206 to £2,294. Investments are extremely . difficult to obtain, all trustee securities being only available at a premium. Sound mortgages are readily taken up by investors who are not subject to trustee legislation. Tho sale of tho section of land adjoining the Henley Public Hall has not yet been completed. In connection with the Deaconess Institute, the accumulated interest to June 30, 1935, has been transferred to capital, and the income from July 1, 1935, has been paid to the Orphanages Committee for tho benefit of St. Mary’s Orphanage. No offer has yet been . forthcoming from any inquiry concerning the sale of the See House. Messrs G. R. Ritchie and A. H. Allen were appointed to represent the Trust Board on tho Diocesan Office Board. Charges remain at 7 per cent., and an arrangement was mad© by the Diocesan Office) Board whereby that figure should not be exceeded. The report was adopted. EVENING SITTING FIRE INSURANCE When Synod resumed in the evening Mr Charles Wilkinson moved the second reading of tho Bill to provide for the establishment of a Diocesan Fire Insurance Department. The idea of a Fire Insurance Board, he said, was not new —it had been established in other dioceses. Both Wellington and Nelson had established them, and one was started in Canterbury in 1892, and the fund had grown until it was now on a sound basis, with a reserve fund of £5,000. Something like £15,000 had been transferred to stabilise and enrich the pension fund. Thfe Bill at present before Synod included. new clauses and ideas. In establishing a Bill of this nature a substantial sum was required and the board would have two or three options to consider before it could establish an insurance association under the Fire Insurance Act. If the board could see its way clear to work the scheme under the Act, it could adopt the Wellington method of obtaining guarantors, each of whom would guarantee a certain amount. They could be released from their liability after the fund had reached a reasonable figure. The Bill made the suggestion that any surplus should bo devoted to the erection or re-erection of churches. If the Bill were passed and became law and a reasonably sound reserve fund were built up, there might be a surplus which would help in the building mentioned. Archdeacon Button seconded the motion and suggested that, if the entire Bill were not passed, it should be given mature consideration by Synod and not be turned down altogether. It might even be considered by a commission.

Mr D. Cutlibertson said he doubted whether the business operating in Southland was sufficient to warrant,the adoption of the Bill. He suggested-that Synod should obtain expert advice on the matter before going any further. Dean Cruickshank said he was very unhappy about the Bill. It was alarming to hear that Wellington had been working for 10, years and had only £5,000 in reserve. He asked that the laity should come to the assistance of the clergy in the matter and give the benefit of their experience and knowledge. Other members spoke for and against the Bill, and one or two modifications were suggested. As an amendment, Mr E. G. Bond moved that the Bill be referred to a commission to report to the next Synod. The Bishop agreed with some of the previous speakers that laymen should bo encouraged to bring forward Bills. Ho was anxious that they should do so, and Mr Wilkinson was deserving of thanks for his effort in this instance. The speaker hoped to see other Bills introduced by laymen. The amendment was carried, and the following commission was set up:— Messrs L. Deans Ritchie, C. Wilkinson, A. F. Cheyno, J. Simpson, and E. G. Bond. CONTROL OF PROPERTIES. The Rev. W. A, Curzon-Siggers moved the second reading of a bill to amend Statute 111,, “ The Regulation of Parishes’ Statute,” and said that this bill was framed to tighten up regulations governing provisions made for the supervision of alterations or additions to any church property, and to regulate the issue of faculties. Several members spoke to the bill, and Synod went into committee to discuss the various clauses, and the third reading of the bill was adjourned until to-day.