“Money-Making” Missions.

To The Editor.

Sir, —In response to rny enquiry from Mr. A. J. Vogan for definite informa tion regarding any of our Methodist Missionaries trading in Papua—or else where —he declines to put any one “on the mat”; but cites a specific case of an entirely different character, alleging that he had asked one of our senior missionaries, the Rev. M. K. Gilmour, Chairman of the Papua District, for a passage on our mission boat (by no means a “yacht”) which was refused unless Mr. Vogan paid £25 for the trip and bought his goods at our stores.

The charge was so ridiculous that I came to the conclusion that our Chair man had been facetious and that Mr.

Vogan had failed to interpret the joke.

I radioed, however, to the Chairman of the District as follows: —“Vogan in Pacific Monthly states that you refused take him to Dobu unless he paid you £25 and bought provisions at our stores.

Kindly comment.”

To this the Chairman replied: “Vogan’s statement as your telegram absolutely without foundation. Magis trate corroborates.”

I had further information from the Rev. J. W. Dixon, who is now in Syd ney and who was present at the inter view with Mr. Vogan. Mr. Dixon states most definitely that nothing of this kind was said. The Chairman offered to take Mr. Vogan to Dobu as a guest, but stated that if Mr. Vogan desired to continue his trip to the Trobriands, he would have to ask him to pay for the fuel consumed on that portion of the trip—about £10. One would have thought that was a very fair and gen erous proposal.

I wish to say most definitely that the Methodist Missionary Society of Aus tralasia does not allow trading of any kind by its missionaries, and should a case of infringement of this rule be established, the culprit would be most promptly dealt with by the Society. As

I have pointed out, we have small stores on some of our Stations, but they are only for the convenience of our native staff, and it is one of the rules that if a native missionary abuses the privilege and obtains goods for friends, the privilege is withdrawn. The ques tion of the continuance of these stores was considered at the annual meeting of the Board of Missions held early in February last, and the whole question was remitted to the Papua District Synod for consideration and report.

As to the salaries of the European missionaries: the aim of the Board of Missions is to place its ministers on the Mission Field on a similar footing to the ministers here in the home work, and we think we have arrived at a fair basis. Certainly no one is overpaid.

I am sure that after this definite statement, Mr. Vogan, as a gentleman, will hasten to express his regret that he has published statements reflecting on an earnest body of men and women who are sincerely endeavouring to carry out their duty.

I am,

John W. Burton

General Secretary, Methodist Mission ary Society of Australasia.