Flaws In N.Z. Society

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 18

Flaws In N.Z. Society

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 22. The Anglican Church feels that to describe the New Zealand way of life as being of “a high standard of material well-being” is erroneous.

“There are clear problems within the community created by growing industrialisation and urbanisation and continuing affluence,” the report of the Provincial Commission of Needs, Resources and Communication says.

The report was presented at the General Synod in Dunedin today. The report quoted a publication of the Department of Statistics which stated that: “The general picture of New Zealanders that emerges from a study on census and other statistical data referring to 1961 is of a relatively youthful, well-fed and prosperous people with a high standard of material well-being.” The publication was released in October last year. The commission is concerned at the “growth in crime rate, and especially in the juvenile crime rate, the steady increase in the number of illegitimate births, the incidence of alcoholism, and

the fact that disordered family life is an acknowledged problem within the community.” This did not mean that New Zealanders as a whole were a materialistic and unhappy lot, given to vices of all kinds, but there were clear problems within the community. “The social and economic changes that .are sweeping the world affect the work of the Church in New Zealand.” The Synod approved the establishment of a commission to be set up to inquire into the trends of work among Maoris.

The commission, which will report its findings to the next General Synod, will comprise seven Maori members, priests or layment, including the Bishop of Aotearoa (the Rt. Rev. W. N. Panapa), not more than three pakehas, and not more than three Maori priests who are working in specialised fields. The Church will ask the Government to investigate further opportunities in the establishment of an educational centre to meet the future requirements of educational and high vocational training of Maori and pakeha youth.