AMENDING BILL

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 2

AMENDING BILL

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OTAGO MAIN PROVISIONS OUTLINED [From Ouu Parliamentary Reporter.] •■WELLINGTON, September 19. There was no difficulty in securing the approval of the ..House of Representatives to the passage of the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Trustees Amendment Bill after the Hon. A. Hamilton (Leader of the Opposition) had been satisfied that all interested parties were fully aware of its provisions. The Hon. F. Jones (PostmasterGeneral) explained that one provision extended the definition of the Deacons’ Court to include the Board of Managers, a body with wider scope for its membership than the Deacons’ Court. It was desired that Synod should be able to delegate powers for the exchange of land to the Deacons’ Court. Otherwise there would he great delay owing to the necessity of getting prior consent of Synod and the holding of a further meeting to confirm the arrangements. The objects of the Ecclesiastical Fund were being widened, enabling grants to be made towards the salaries of holders of theological chairs or lectureships in any college or university in Otago which, in the opinion of Synod, were necessary. Mr Hamilton remarked that he did not. wish to discuss the Bill, but he wanted to make sure that its proposals were in conformity with the wishes of the Presbyterian General Assembly, which was the controlling authority of the church.

Mr Jones replied that he knew of no objection, and the matters in the Bill related only to Synod, which had given its approval. The Rev. A. H- Nordraeyer (Government, Oamaru) smilingly affected to be sorry that so good a Presbyterian as the Leader of the Opposition should be so ignorant of the position of the General Assembly in relation to the Otago affairs of the church. The General Assembly, he explained, had no desire to have any say in the administration of the funds of the Otago Synod, and it was not consulted in any way as to the disposal of those funds. It had, therefore, not been consulted regarding the Bill, but he_ understood the Otago Synod was unanimous iu desiring the proposed amendments of the church property law, and the council of the Otago tlniversity also concurred.