BISHOP'S APPOINTMENT

Evening Post, Volume c, Issue 54, 5 March 1934, Page 10

BISHOP'S APPOINTMENT

COMMENT BY CHURCH PAPER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHEISTCHUECH, This Day. The publication of the news of the. appointment of Archdeacon W. A. B. -Fitchett to the Bishopric of Dunedin' is the subject of comment in this month's issue of the "Church News," which alleges that a.breach of confidence occurred regarding the announcement of the appointment, and also that there .was a breach of etiquette in the publication of the names of the other persons nominated for the position. "By a regrettable—shall we say?— error of judgment on the part of some person acquainted with what went on in the Electoral Synod of the Dunedin Diocese on February 20, the Dunedin morning paper was placed in the possession of certain information concerning the election," the paper states. "It should be clearly and definitely stated that tho Bishop of Christchureh, who presided as the Archbishop of New Zealand's Commissary, did not, as the Press Association dispatch published in Christchureh possibly seemed to imply, make any public announcement regarding the election whatsoever. He was astounded to read in the Dunedin morning newspaper what purported to be an authentic report of the proceed- j ings, in spite of the fact that they wore conducted strictly in camera, as is usual." . . After making further reference to tho appointment, the "Church News" 1 adds:—"The real fault lies not so much with the newspapers as with some indiscreet person connected with the Synod. The Press Association dispatch stated that five other nominations were considered. This-indicates a still more regrettable 'leakage' from the Synod hall, resulting in a violation of the tradition of the Church that the proceedings of the Electoral Synod shall be confidential, at least within the lifetime of the persons most concerned."