WAIKATO ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2565, 18 December 1888, Page 3

WAIKATO ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Quarterly Meeting. The above Conference met in S. Andrew's school-room, Cambridge, on Thursday, at 3.30 p.m. Tho Yen. Archdeacon Willis presided, and there were also present: — Revs. Dr. Hooper and Uoler, Colonel Forbes, Messrs Scddon, Wells, Hewitt, T. W. Hicks, Lake, Kusabs, Fuize, Dyer, and Dr. Moon. The Rev. Mr Boler acted as secretary. The Presidenc regretted the absence of Rev. Marshall, of Te Aroha, who was prevented from attending through sickness ; especially as he was to have introduced the subject of "The Christian Sabbath," and would doubtless have laid tho matter before them in a lucid manner. He was sorry to aav that the ttev. Mr Biegs, of Hamilton, had withdrawn from the Conference, as he their meetings led to no practical resi®. Apologies for non-attendanco wore also received from Messrs Cox, of Te Aroha, and Sandes, o[ Hamilton. The minutes of the meeting held at Hamilton, on 12th September, were read, and after some discussion, duly confirmed. The first business arose out of the minutes, viz., tho considering of a letter, which had been received previous to the meeting at Hamilton, from a number of the Te Aroha vestry, suggesting that the Conference should meet half-yearly instead of quarterly, in consequence of the expense attending such meetings. Mr Wells proposed that the Conference meet every six months; not in consequence of the expense, but to enable the clergymen to devote more time to the parish work. A very protracted and desultory discussion ensued, nearly every one present taking part in it. Mr Kusabs seconded the motion, and upon it being put, the voting was equal, there being five for and against. Tho President gave his casting vote against the motion, and suggested that the matter should be brought up again at the next meeting of the Conference.

TUB PENSION FUND. In introducing the subject of the Pension Pund for clergymen that had been adopted by the Synod of the Diocese; the Archdeacon said that it was doubtless a good thing, but. it, nevertheless, had in his opinion, several defects. It was a good thing for the parishes to be able to get rid of aged clergymen, who were not able to do their work. A committee, assisted by Mr Speight, of the Government Assurance Department, had been a considerable time in endeavouring to unravel the intricate question, and the result was the scheme laid before the Synud's last meeting, copies of which lay upon tile table. He considered one of the chief faults was in Clause If), which stipulated that the clergyman should pay £5, and tho parish £10, for each £100 of the pension. He was afraid that in the country districts it would result in the £10 being deducted from the stipend of the clergyman. Under the existing Pension Fund the town helped the country by their large collections ; but in this scheme, town and country would contribute like amounts, unless the towns made voluntary offerings. They had to send a reply before March 31st, or under Section 29, they would be put down for £50, and be charged with the annual contribution for that sum.

Mr Lake strongly deprecated the scheme and thought clergymen should provide for old age like other people. He also pointed out that it did not provide for taking over any policies that careful clergymen had existing with insurance offices, and yet it compelled them to, as it were, insure again. It appeared from the circuits as if a good business was to be done, and the profits were going to be given to the sick, and widows and orphans funds, while there should be a rebate upon the payments made by the clergymen. That was making the public subscribe to other funds, while apparently they were paying to the Pension Fund. Then, again, how could Church officers, who were continually changing, be made responsible for the £10 per annum ? there were no powers for recovery. Mr Seddon said it was absurd to think that churchwardens could bind their successors to pay any amount; it would have to be voluntary. Mr Wells said all Church payments were voluntary ; the Synod had no power to compel any church payments, and yet they were always paid. The Wesleyans had a similar fund, and the payments were always made, although they were clearly voluntarily. Many thought the Synod should have the power to apportion so much for each district to pay ; he thought the parishs sho-.'ld be assessed as per population. Mr Lake did not believe in the Synod having more power, they had seen the evil of it in England ; he thought the local people should have the power. The President explained that Mr Speight had impressed upon the Synod the absolute necessity of having the power of recovery ; and ho understood that application would be made to the Legislative Assembly to grant such power. Mr Seddon thought it was getting the thin end of the wedge in, and if successful would grow into something like the old chuich rates. Mr Wells said the Synod had adopted the scheme, and a meeting would shortly be held to confirm it, so the only thing they could do would be to oppose it altogether, or suggest such improvementt as they thought requisite. After some further discussion the following resolution was unanimously adopted on the proposition of Mr Lake : —"That while regretting our inability, at such short notice, to thoroughly criticise the Pension Fund Scheme, it is the opinion of this conference that no pension scheme will be acceptable that does not provide:—!. That the basis of assessment be upon the number of church members, instead of per parish. 2. That every profit arising from working pension fund No. 2 shall remain within it as an emergency or equalising fund, and not be directed as per clause 4. 3. That provision be made for taking into the pension scheme, the obligations and benefits of clergymen already insured in other offices. At 5 p.m. the conference adjourned for tea, which was kindly provided by some of the lady members of St. Andrew's congregation, to which full justice was done. At 7 p.m. a short service was held in the church, the Archdeacon reading prayers, and Dr. Hooper gavo a brief address. A goodly number ot the congregation attended the service, and also the evening sitting of the conference, which resumed at 7.30 p.m. At the evening sitting Colonel Forbes introduced the question of lay-help in carrying out the work of tlio Church, and after onsiderable discussion the following resolution was passed : —"That this conference is of opinion that it is desirablo to form an association in each parish for organising layhelp, and that so much of the scheme elaborated by Colonel Forbes as may be suitable for the requirements of each parish be adopted by such associations." It was decided to hold the next conference at Te Aroha, in March, if an invitation were received. A vote of thanks to the ladies and to the chairman closed the proceedings.