Leaves Church Over Rhodesia

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30897, 2 November 1965, Page 16

Leaves Church Over Rhodesia

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, October 31. “The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Ramsay, is obviously not familiar with both sides of the Rhodesian question by adopting the attitude he has,” according to the principal of the Taieri High School (Mr T. G. Hislop).

Mr Hislop has suspended his membership of the Anglican Church in protest against the archbishop’s statement that he would support the use of force by Britain in the event of the white Rhodesian Government declaring independence unilaterally. Mr Hislop said he opposed the church “taking sides” in the issue, especially at such a critical time when the British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) was in Rhodesia endeavouring to secure a favourable solution. “I have relatives in Rhodesia who have suffered very

much indeed because of the political situation there,” he said. One of them had suffered financially because of the situation by losing the possibilities of superannuation on his retirement from a substantial position in Rhodesia. “I get letters regularly from Rhodesia and know the feeling of the white people. They are loyal British citizens but have been terribly upset by this issue.” He did not want to leave the Anglican Church, he said, but he felt the archbishop was wrong to express his view.