Melanesian Mission Feels New Zealand Devaluation

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 14

Melanesian Mission Feels New Zealand Devaluation

Devaluation of the New Zealand dollar had cut the spending power of the Diocese of Melanesia by $45,000 a year, the Bishop of

Melanesia (the Rt Rev. J. W. Chisholm) said yesterday. Bishop Chisholm, who is making a tour of various dioceses of New Zealand after attending the Anglican General Synod, will be in Christchurch until Monday. Most of the income for church work in the diocese came from New Zealand, but currency in both the British Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides was Australian, the bulk of the shipping and trade was with Australia, and most Of the diocese’s requirements came from Australia, Bishop Chisholm said. In this way, the devaluation of the New Zealand dollar had effectively reduced the mission’s budget. Most of the Melanesian mission was run by the Melanesians, he said, with only 10 Europeans preaching in the Anglican churches in the diocese as against 110 Melanesian clergy. 'There were 30 other Europeans on the staff of the diocese, but 300 Melanesian teachers, catechists, and medical workers.

At present, he had two Melanesian bishops assisting him, Bishop Chisholm said, and he hoped that in time he would have four. There was a great need for professional people in the Melanesian islands. New universities in Fiji and New Guinea were likely to provide tertiary education for more Melanesian students, to fill available positions. The Melanesian mission would have to continue to depend on New Zealand for staff, especially specialist staff, Bishop Chisholm said. It was in the sphere of specialist work that the Melanesians still needed a lead, he said.