Bishop Says Future Of Melanesia Is Bright

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30443, 18 May 1964, Page 17

Bishop Says Future Of Melanesia Is Bright

The economic future for the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands, which make up Melanesia, was bright because of the esetablishment of new agricultural activities, the Assistant Bishop of Melanesia (the Rt. Rev. Leonard Alufurai) said in an interview in Christcurch.

Once copra was the only export from Melanesia, but a timber industry had been established by a Japanese firm, and the Government was encouraging the establishment of cocoa growing plantations. Prospecting for nickel wag also being started by a Canadian firm.

The entry of the new activities would bring much good to the islands, as it would mean that more Melanesians were employed and had money in their pockets, Bishop Alufurai said. At present many islanders living in the villages lived off the land, and had no use for money. Baptised a Christian when he was 12, Bishop Alufurai attended secondary ’ school and studied theology in New Zealand. After spending a year as curate at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Remuera, he returned to Melanesia. In 1956 he was appointed Rural Dean of Malaita, his home island in the Solomons, and last year was consecrated a Bishop. Bishop Alufurai came to New Zealand to attend the General Synod as the cleric representative of the Diocese of Melanesia. He will return home in June. New Zealand was the chief supporter of the work of his diocese, the Bishop said. Much help was given through Anglican mission boards, and the Lepers Trust Board also supplied medical assistance to the three leprosoria in the Solomons. There were now 105 ord-

ained Melanesian priests working in the islands, the Bishop said. They each served 20 villages, and catechists—men with two years theological training who live in the villages—conduct many of the services.

Many of tbe schools were conducted by missionaries. Bishop Alufurai said. The islands bad great need of technicians, especially in engineering, and the Anglican Church had a training school

for these. Besides engineers, the school trained carpenters and navigators. Trained navigators were very necessary where navigation of trading and transport ships was through hundreds of islands. The Bishop has four preaching engagements while he Is in Christchurch. On Sunday. May 24, he will preach at St. Faith’s Church, New Brighton, at 8 a.m., St Mary’s Church, Addington, at 10 a.m., Christchurch Cathedral, 11 and SL Mary's, Merivale, at 7 p.m.