DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1920, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

CONFERENCES AT TIMARU. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Timaru, Jan. 3. This week Timaru lias entertained the animal conference of the Presbyterian Bible Class, with an attendance of nearly 000, chiefly young people, and a. number of Ministers from various parts of the Dominion as teachers, lecturers, and leaders.

Business matters relating to the young men's and young women's organisations respectively, were first attended to, each day's programme being devoted to study circles under capable leaders, or addresses on suitable subjects, such as axperienees in special fields of work, and teachers' classes were also held. The forenoons were devoted to tennis, cricket, sea-bathing, etc., and there was a garden party on the Girls' High School grounds on Thursday, and sports on the Boys' High Schol grounds on Friday.

Quite successful evening meetings were made interesting by the rota of speakers, local and visiting ministersAn important statement was made on .Thursday evening by Professor Hewitson, of Knox College,' on the effect of the adverse exchange rates on remits for salaries to New Zealand churches, and missionaries in India and China, especially the latter, the present rates requiring 70 per cent, more for India, and for China 150 per cent, more, the value of •the sovereign having dropped from fifteen to nine rupees in the former, and from ten Chinese dollars to four in the latter. To maintain the present salaries £7060 a year more was needed, and nn effort, should be made to raise an emergency fund of £IO,OOO, The professor urged delegates to make the situation known when they returned home.

The Australasian Christian Students' Conference opened at Geraldine yesterday, about WO delegates being welcomed by the Mayor. The Rev. John Mackenzie, formerly of St. Andrew's, Christchurch, now of Toorak, Melbourne, an old Geraldine boy, presided over the conference.