ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 4

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

e POSSIBLE VISIT TO DOMINION INVITATION BY PRIMATE OF NEW ZEALAND (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, July 19. An invitation to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. G. F. Fisher) and Mis Fisher to visit New Zealand was extended by the Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop West-Watson) at a luncheon given by the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan). Such a visit, said Archbishop WestWatson, would be “a tremendous help and encouragement.” Archbishop West-Watson added that it was realised that many calls were made upon the Archbishop of Canterbury by Church and State, but now that journeys could be made so expeditiously it was greatly hoped that he would follow where the King and Queen were “blazing the trail” as soon as possible. ‘‘l can assure him of a tremendous welcome,” added the Primate.

Dr. Fisher, who was puffing a pipe filled with New Zealand tobacco, given to him by Mr Jordan—which he said he liked very much—said that he would very much like to visit New Zealand, but that such things “took a lot of arranging.’’ Others present at the luncheon were the Bishop of London (Dr. J. W. C. Wand), the Bishop of Aotearoa (the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett), the Bishop of Auckland (the Rt. Rev.-W. J. Simkin), the Rt. Rev. G. v. Gerard, now Assistant Bishop of Sheffield and formerly Bishop of Waiapu; the Rt. Rev. W. G. Hilliard, formerly Bishop of Nelson; the Rt. Rev. S. G. Caulton, Bishop of Melanesia; the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, Dean of Norwich, formerly Bishop of Wellington; and Major-General W. G. Stevens, official secretary at New Zealand House. Mr Jordan expressed pleasure at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s presence. “I treasure many kindnesses from Mr Jordan,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury, replying, “and I recall with pleasure meeting seven. New Zealand chaplains during the war, headed by Harry Taylor.” Amid laughter, he added: “I find the bishops as good as the chaplains were.”