ASSISTING REFUGEES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 17

ASSISTING REFUGEES

N.C.C. Officer On Aid

"Where New Zealand Christians are very good at sending money overseas to help refugees. Australia is more noteworthy as the chief receiving country for the people themselves,” said the Rev. D M. Taylor, who started work in Christchurch on Monday as the associate general secretary of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand.

Mr Taylor was vice-princi-pal of Christchurch College for 10 years until 1959. Then he went to Sydney as assistant general secretary of the Australian Council of Churches. He returned to New Zealand at the end of last year. "It is much easier to give money to help refugees than it is to meet and talk to them across the barriers of language and race,” he said. ■ Refugees arrive in Australia under the auspices of the World Council of Churches at the rate of 4400 a year. “Inter-church relations are improving very greatly in Australia. A new expedience in Australia included personal dealings with many Orthodox Churches. Minority groups are very grateful for the help they receive from the Council of Churches.” he said. “Relations between the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations have become much more friendly in recent years," said Mr Taylor. “A conference for clergy and doctors in Australia this year will be attended by Roman Catholic priests and doctors, as well as those of other denominations.”