METHODIST CHURCH

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1931, Page 7

METHODIST CHURCH

MISSION RFPORTS. (By Telegraph—Per Press AssociationJ DUNFDIN, February 2(3. At tlie Methodist Conference the i'epoi't of the Womens’ Missionary L'n ion stated that tilt- membership was now 2,9-10 an increase of more than 100 nieinin-rs. The year had commenced with 43 auxiliaries and closed with 4b. The income for the year was £2,590, an increase of '£7o over last year. The Union was now turning its attention to the advancement of work among .Maori girls, and it was hoped to establish a training home on a small scale in Auckland.

The report of the Childrens 1 Fund allowed the expenditure was £75 13s Id more than the income, and the Committee was of opinion that a levy of 7 * per cent, he struck. The financial statement of the Foreign Missionary Society for 1930 disclosed an income of £15,249 9s, and an expenditure of £21,414 3s Id, leaving a debt balance of £6,145 14s Id. The Hoard of Foreign Missions estimated that the income for 1931 would be £14,500, and that the expenditure would be £10,500. On th e motion of Rev. \Y. A. Sinclair, General Secretary of the Hoard, it was decided: “That £1,400 bo regarded as the extreme limit of expenditure on the mission field, that the Chairman be asked if he can bring the expenditure within that amount; and if this is not possible he be requested to indicate what steps must be taken to reduce the expenditure to the amount of £14)000; that an S.O.S. appeal be Sent null to provide special help on a general fund of £5,000 sufficient to cover the- difference between the ostium toil ordinary income and expenditure for this year, amounting to £2OOO to prevent the withdrawal of workers from the field, and also to assist in placing tile Mission in a more satisfactory financial position; that con. iributions to the “SACS.” fund extend over a period of three years, it so desired; that the financial position bo revived at the end of July, and if the result of the S.O.S. appeal be not then regarded as sufficiently satisfactory, certain workers be withdrawn from, the mission field.” “With reference to future medical policy in the Islands, the Board recoin-

mends (1) That Dr Sayers return to the mission field for a further term oi service; (2) that the future medical policy of the Mission he not definitely determined until the result of the S.O.S. appeal he known : Of) that tin Boat'd is of the opinion that there should he only one base hospital in th ( Mission district, located at Biiua or other sjiitable central place, ft is not suggested that one doetor is to he withdrawn. On tin? recommendation of the Board, it was decided that Boviana circuit be decided ; that the portion of the present circuit situated in the British Solomons he constituted a circuit. to he named the Boviana circuit, that an area situated in the mandated territory of New Guinea be constituted a circuit and n ft med the Bougainville and Buka circuit and that Rev. J. B. Ma'claf he appointed Superintendent of Bnngaimillo and Buka circuit. It was further decided that the Boare take into full consideration at the earliest possible date the future of Banga plantation, and that the Cha.rman of the Mission District he communicated with concerning the possibility of reducing considerably tie working expenses of the plantation until the price of copra increases, and that the working expenses on other plantations he reduced to a minimum.

A deputation from the League ol Nations, which was introduced by Lev. H. K. Uellhoiiise, waited on the conference and appealed to members to use their influence to further the aims of the Union and acquaint their people with its ideals. Rev. C. Eaton, who replied on behalf of the conference, assured the deputation of the whole-hearted support of the conference and stated that he trusted to see the unification of manhood at no distant date.