WAGES OF CLERGY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 16

WAGES OF CLERGY

“VICAR SHOULD GET £350” APPEAL TO PARISHES “The question of the stipends of the e'ergy has caused me much uneasiness, and has, I fear, caused some of the clergy even more uneasiness during the past year.” ARCHBISHOP AVERILL raised this question in his address to synod yesterday. “If the clergy are to meet their financial obligations, and be reasonably free from financial worries, the minimum stipend paid to a vicar, whether in a parish or a parochial district, should be £350,” he said. “Again I would urge the adoption of the Duplex as the best method. I am convinced that there are few parishes in this diocese which, if properly worked, are unable to pay such a stipend if they determine to do so. The exception could and should be assisted by the Central Fund. MAORI MINISTERS “The question of raising the stipends of the Maori clergy is equally important, and steps are being taken toward the accomplishment of this much desired end. It must be remembered that conditions havft changed considerably in recent years in connection with the status and training of the Maori clergy. “How can they be expected to live, do their work and possibly support a family, upon a stipend of £l2O a vear? It means inevitably getting into T debt and so lowering the spiritual standard of their work and influence. “We have decided to make a venture of faith, and, with the assistance of the Maori people themselves, to raise the stipends of all Maori priests to £l5O a year.” SYNOD’S DISCUSSION At the first session of synod in tlie afternoon Canon Grant Cowen gave notice to move that it be a recommendation to Standing Committee that in view of the present high cost of living the minimum stipend for vicars in charge of cures should be £ 350 together with travelling expenses and a house. The Rev. W. X. Panapa, of Kaikohe, raised the question of whether the Maori clergy were not entitled to stipends more approaching those paid of the pakehas. In a report upon work among the Maoris, Archdeacon H. A. Hawkins, said there were now 15 native clergy, and there was no diminution in the number of young Maoris desirous of entering the ministry. The standing committee had decided to raise the stipends of Maori clergy to £l4O for deacons and £l5O for priests, but it was to be hoped this was only another step toward giving the Maori clergy at least a living wage. “I am afraid I cannot answer the question as to what we Maori clergy require to live on,” said Mr. Panapa. “The price of butter and sugar is the same to us as to you.” The Rev. M. P. Kapa said the Maori clergy were labouring under considerable disadvantage and stress because of their small stipends. It was hardly possible for a married man with several children to live on £l2O a year. Archdeacon Hawkins said he knew that several of the Maori clergy had been forced to carry out labouring work and he deprecated the need of such action. It was not a healthy state of affairs at all. The question was referred to the laymen’s conference, to be held this morning, to report back to synod.