PROPOSED DIOCESE FOR MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 17, 15 October 1926, Page 8

PROPOSED DIOCESE FOR MAORIS

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY Dominion Special. Auckland, October 14. The difficulties which confront the Church of England in the proposed provision of a diocese for Maoris were referred to by Archbishop Averill this morning in the course of his presidential address to the Diocesan Svnod. “Contrary to expectations,” be said, “when the special session of General Svnod ‘passed a canon to provide for a diocese for Maoris, no further progress lias as yet taken place in the actual creation of a diocese or the appointment of a bishop. The bishops of the province have twice met the Maori Svnod in conference, as required by the ednon, and twice the conference has proved abortive.” Although a considerable change had taken place in the attitude of many members of the Maori Synod, he continued, vet there still remained, a majority of one against appointing a pakeha as the first bishop. It seemed then as if the whole movement for the creation of a diocese for Maoris would fall to the ground and that the General Svnod must be asked to repeal the statute. The Maoris, however, requested that they might be allowed the privilege of stating their case to the General Synod, a privilege which he was sure the General Synod would grant.