THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1882. THE CATHEDRAL EXPENDITURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2668, 25 October 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1882. THE CATHEDRAL EXPENDITURE.

Some years ago Messrs W. and R. Chambers, the eminent publishers of Edinburgh, brought out, as one of the numbers of their interesting miscellany, a pamphlet entitled, '* Living within the means; living up to the means; and living beyond the means," in which were depicted the struggles of an eminently respectable medical practitioner to keep up appearances upon advice given gratis to patients and a precarious practice. The lessons contained in this pamphlet might, wo think, be well taken to heart by the authorities who rule over the destinies of our Cathedral, for it certainly seems that, in their desire to keep np appearances in the Cathedral, they are falling into the courses which ultimately caused the eminently respectable practitioner above alluded to to come to grief. We do not propose to go into the causes which have led to the large expenditure in Cathedral matters. Whether the stipends paid to canons, or the expenses connected with the daily services at the Cathedral are to blame is not much to the point. The internal management of the various branches of the institution may well be left to the gentlemen who have the matter in charge. But the outside public, being highly interested in Cathedral matters, have a right to criticize the general results of the management. Neither do we intend to notice the complaints made by various parishes that have suffered severely by the establishment of the Cathedral as a working institution. The Cathedral has a certain income which may or may not be grudged it, but the point we wish to bring prominently forward is, that the authorities should manage to live within their means. The way in which they have succeeded in outrunning the constable reflects anything but credit on their foresight, and tends to throw serious discredit on the New Zealand branch of ! the English Church. It may not seem very clear where the fault lies, aa there appears to be a rather vague impression abroad as to the relative powers of the Bishop, Chapter, and Synod; but that a fault, and a very serious ono too, does exist is evident enough, and it would certainly be to the credit of all concerned that steps should ba immediately taken to remedy the state of affairs that at present obtaics.

At the last meeting of the Synod the Cathedral authorities camo before the Synod in forma pauperis. They had, to start with, exceeded their income, and they wished the Synod to set them straight with the world. The institution was then very young, and certain speakers gave it to be understood that it was this youth and its natural inexperience, which had led it into extravagancies which would be seen to and immediately remedied ; or that at all events the increased income consequent on the fall establishment of daily sorrices would render such another application quite unnecessary. The Syncd consequently looked leniently on the' affair. It treated the Cathedral authori- I

ties as an indulgent parent would treat a son who had not yet learned the responsibilities connected with the possession of money and the duties of life. It, therefore, gave the money required, and said practically, "We give you the money asked for, but for the future pleaeo be more careful." But at the very next sitting of the Synod what do we find t Why, that the Cathedral has run into debt to the tune of nearly £IOOO ! Or f to put it in another way, the monthly expenditure has been between £7O and £BO over the income! Had the deficit been a email one, we could have understood the situation, One branch of the income to be derived from the Cathedral was more or less an unsolved problem. But it does not say much for the skill with which the estimates were drawn out to find that such a large deficiency makes itself at once apparent.

Nor can we at all approve of the manner in which it is proposed to wipe out the deficit. What is in reality a Committee of Ways and Means has reported in favour of wiping out the debt by appropriating the amount already accumulated and now used as a sinking' fund for repayment of the general debts on the Daan and Chapter estate. It is held by certain members of the Synod that there is no obligation for this fund, and that it may be fairly so appropriated. The Dean appears to bo satisfied with the suggestion because the returns from the Dean and Chapter Fund would enable the arrangements for the sinking fund to. be resumed in oight or nine years hence. But it appears to us that the lenders of the money will hardly be pleased with the new arrangement. For a number of years they have been entitled to believe that their money will be repaid them within a giren time, and the absorption of the sinking fund will not be likely to inoreaso their confidence in their security. Even without any specific arrangement with the lenders it may fairly be inferred that a moral obligation lies with the Cathedral authorities to see to the extinguishing of the debt But even supposing this last year's deficit is paid in the manner suggested. What next P Such a fund as the sinking fund will hare no existence next year, and, unless very radical changes are made with regard to the Cathedral expenditure, what is to take place next year? The situation should be looked fairly in the face. We have never heard of a Dean and Chapter filing their schedule, but if a private individual was to spend such a large sum over and above his income, he would very ebon be compelled to go through the Court. Thc-.ro can be no doubt that the only way out of the dilemma is for the pruning knife to be used unsparingly on the daily expenditure of the Cathedral. The Church can manage to exist without a number of what may fairly be called the religious luxuries that are at present giren to the public. But the Church cannot afford to see its Cathedral, up to which it looks for preoept and guidance, setting the bad example of living beyond its means with its eyes wide open. We trust the Synod will not mince matters, for it is no charity to spare the knife when the patient's life is at stake.