Missions and Trade
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Reply to Mr. Vogan
To the Editor.
Sir, —In your issue of December you give some extracts from a letter sent to you by Mr. A. J. Vogan, in which he criticises Mis sions in the Pacific.
Everyone will welcome criticism that is based upon fact, but I must challenge Mr.
Vogan’s statement regarding the Methodist Missions. He states: “The Methodist Mis sions, in my opinion, are far too concerned with trading. In comparison with other Mis sionaries, the Methodists receive high salaries and are expert) traders.”
In the first place, the Missionary Society, of which I have the honour to be the Executive Officer, does not allow trading of any kind. We have on some of our stations In Papua small mission stores, but these are solely to enable our brown staff to obtain goods at reasonable rates. The Mission makes no profit, but frequently a considerable loss, on this convenience for its staff.
I challenge Mr. Vogan to give me, either privately or publicly, the name of any mis sionary who is engaged in trading, and can assure Mr. Vogan that if there should be such a man he will be dealt with by the Society. I myself do not believe that any such exists and Mr. Vogan must have been very seriously misinformed. —I am, etc..
John W. Burton.
General Secretary.
Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia.
Sydney, 31st December, 1931.
Judge Hubbard, of the Condominium Court, at Vila, in the New Hebrides, reached Sydney by the Morinda on January 17. His wife, who has been ill for some time, was taken to a private hospital.