METHODISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 3

METHODISM.

•V ■ MAORI MISSIOX WORK. A.\D OTHER MATTERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Duneilin, Thursday. The Methodist Conference this after- : noon decided to urge the Maori agents to secure more adequate support of home missions by the Maori people. The i Conference deprecated establishing a I separate fund for Maori work, i The Rev. T. G. Brooke, organising secretary, and Mr. J. Veale, 'treasurer, were unanimously reappointed. A life honorarium of £SO was granted to the Rev. W. Gittos, late superintendent of ■Maori missions. The continuance and development of the Maori Deaconess' Home at Okaiawa .was referred to the executive committee, and a special committee was appointed to supervise the work of the West Coast Maori Missions, to appeal to the circuits to increase the income, and allow of a more vigorous policy of extension. The Rev. T. G. Hammond was appointed a deputation for Wellington for 1814, and the Rev. Papakura a deputation for South Canterbury, if available. The question of equipping a Gospel .van was referred to the executive for consideration. A committee was appointed to consider the establishment of a home missionaries' provincial-fund. The Conference agreed to forego the grant of £IOO from the Foreign Missions Board in Sydney, which was due on account of the transfer of the R»v. Avery to New Zealand, i Suggested amendments of the book o f laws were agreed to, and the book was accepted by the Conference. ■ The appointment of an organising secretary in the Dominion for foreign missions was held over, pending a decision as to New Zealand's Bpecial sphere of activity, but organising secretaries were apointed for each of the ten districts of the Dominion. A resolution was approved relating to the union of the Methodist churches in Tonga, and the union of those churches with the New Zealand church. Deep regret was expressed at the retirement of the Rev. Buttle, secretary for foreign missions. A report of the New Zealand memDerj of the Board of Missions was offered, forwarding alternative suggestions fot separate field portions of mission work (1) Fiji, including Indian work; 12) 'lndian work in Fiji; (3) Solomon Isands, Tonga and Samoa. The matter will be considered by a special committee .during the year. The third proposal -will probably be adopted. Representatives to the next meeting of the board were appointed.