Departure For Youth Assembly

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 16

Departure For Youth Assembly

Christmas Day will be specially remembered by 20 young people from throughout New Zealand who were bidden farewell at the Brevet Club last evening before leaving by air on the first leg of their journey to the Philippines, where they will represent the Youth Committee of the National Council of Churches at the Asian Christian Youth Assembly in Dumaguete City.

The assembly will last from December 28 to January 10, and of the 500 to 600 delegates expected the New Zealanders, plus a party of 30 from Australia, will be the only Europeans taking part. The New Zealand delegates will visit Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, before returning to Christchurch via Perth and Sydney on January 23. “This is a very worthwhile mission, and one that offers a personal challenge to each of you as representatives of the Christian youth of this country,” said the

Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in a letter of greetings. On behalf of the Government and people he extended warmest congratulations to the delegates on their selection, and commended the objectives before them. “The Government places great importance on the extension of Our links with the nations and peoples of South-East Asia, and in this you are entering a special sphere of service.” Throughout their travels they would find that people of all races and creeds found common ground and understanding where there was love and good will. “This, of course, is the essence of the Christian message we are all celebrating on this Christmas Day, and which you will be taking with you.” A letter from the president of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand, the Bishop of Waikato (the Rt. Rev. J. T. Holland) was also read. The assembly would not only be a vital ecumenical experience, he said, but an experience of different cultural, traditional and racial environments. It would enable delegates to see more clearly the factors which were disturbing Christian unity and international relationships. To go out into the world as representatives of Christ was a wonderful privilege and a great task, said the chairman of the Youth Committee (the Rev. J. Vincent) in his address of welcome. Selecting the delegates had been no easy task, and though he knew those chosen were worthy representatives, others as worthy were not going. The secretary of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand (the Rev. D. M. Taylor), speaking on behalf of the 10 member churches, thanked and congratulated all those who had worked .to make the trip possible. “We in New Zealand need the sort of help you will bring back,” he said. He hoped delegates would talk unofficially with other young people, Indonesians in particular, and thus prepare the way for the inter-

change of personnel in the future. “I still don’t really believe that this day has arrived,” said Mr D. Holland, a public accountant, of Christchurch, who is leader of the party and is also a member of the assembly’s steering committee, seminar leader for those in business and will conduct the morning worship on January 2. He expressed his gratitude for good wishes offered, and trusted his, party could be real ambassadors not only to New Zealand but to the churches.

The party also includes Joan Cardno, a school teacher from Christchurch, who is the girls’ leader; Rex Heyworth, a secondary school teacher, and Alfred Johnstone, a grocer’s assistant, also from Christchurch; Jean Langford, a primary school teacher from Nelson; Margaret Poulter, an Oamaru typist, and Robert Sinclair, a farmer from Waimate. In a brief service conducted by Mr Vincent he read from Psalm 107, set for the twentysecond day, which he said was read on December 22 at a service in an upstairs room at Lytelton after the arrival of the First Four Ships?

The 17 members of the main party will have a full round fare of £2lB 15s 9d. They were orignially asked to pay as much as they could, and youth groups throughout the country raised a subsidy of £l5OO.

Each delegate was presented with a souvenir travel bag, supplied by T.E.A.L., in which were pamphlets on New Zealand from the Tourist Department. Three hundred tikis and kiwi pins were also taken for distribution.