METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 217, 12 March 1912, Page 8

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. At the Methodist Conference to-day Rev. G. Brooke, organising secretary of the Home Mission Executive, submitted the home missionaries' superannuation scheme, and recommended that the conference should appoint a special com'mittee to consider the same and, after' placing the matter before the quarterly meetings of the 'Home Mission stations, ■ to report their recommendations to the next conference. The fund will be provided by contributing to the Government National Provident scheme, and the scale of contributions shall be such as will entitle each home missionary of a suitable age to receive ! ;a' pension of 20s ■ per week at the 'atge of SO.*? All home the age' of 36 years shall be required to become contributory to the superannuation fund. A Dunedm committee, consisting .of Revs. P. W.'Fairclough, W. Slade, F. B. Brooke, and Messrs. E. Roseveare, J. C. Stevens and J. B. Shacklock, was appointed to consider the proposal and prepare a scheme. A cablegram from the Foreign Mission Board at Sydney, asking for volunteers for service in the South Sea Islands mission field, was read. The Rev. T. G. Hammond stated that the Rev. M. Kirk- | wood, a Maori probationer of two years' standing, had expressed his desire to undertake work as a missionary. It was decided that Rev. Kirkwood's offer be sent to the Board at Sydney. -

The question of Maori missions was discussed at some length, various recommendations being read. The Wanganui Synod recommended "That the conference be requested to bring before the Government the urgent need of making provision for the registration of births and deaths of Maori people, and so remove an injustice under which these people are living." Eventually a resolution was passed referring the matter to the Mission Committee.

•The committee appointed in connection with the proposed theological college at Epsom reported that they had gone into the question, and recommended that the matter should be referred to the Auckland Committee. The recommendation w&s adopted, and Mr. A. C. Caughey was appointed treasurer. It was ,also decided that district committees be appointed. Mr. J. A. Flesher reported that in all the States of Australia, with the exception bf West Australia, Bills author* ising the separation of the New Zealand church from the church of Australasia had been passed. The piobable cost would be £250. The Bill in West Australia would probably be passed this year. The conference passed a resolution thanking Mr. Flesher and the commit '! for the work they had done in th> matter.

■■is also reported that valuable asaiA e had been rendered by the member., ->f the Governments in the various States, and by Sir J. G. Ward and Sir John Findhy in New Zealand. MILITARY TRAINING. Auckland, Monday. The Methodist Conference received' the following from General Godley in reply to its resolution on the subject:— "Am issuing instructions to endeavor to obviate the necessity to strike military camps or travelling on Sundays." The "message wae received with warm expressions of approval. The balance-sheet of the Wellington Education Trust showed receipts £ll,616 16s Id, and balance to credit £3 17s.