NEW ANGLICAN PRIMATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 February 1940, Page 9

NEW ANGLICAN PRIMATE

| BISHOP WEST-WATSON CHOSEN. I [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON, February 20. The. Rt. Rev. Dr. Campbell WestWatson, Bishop of Christchurch, was elected Primate and Archbishop of the Province of New Zealand at this morning’s sitting of the General Synod of the Church of England. He will su_cceed Archbishop Averill, who will retire after holding the primacy for 15 years. When the Synod assembled the senior clerical member, Archdeacon H. A. Hawkins, of Auckland, moved that the bishops be requested to nominate one of their number to fill the primacy. The motion was seconded by the senior lay member, Mr. H. D. Andrews, of Christchurch. The bishops left the Synod hall for a separate room, and there in camera by ballot nominated i Bishop West-Watson. At the same time the lay members and clergy sat as separate houses to which the nomination was submitted. The respective orders voted by ballot and on the re-j suit being notified to the Archbishop Synod reassembled and the result .of the election was announced. Bishop Cherrington, for the bishops, offered hearty congratulations and good wishes to the new Archbishop j and promised earnest prayers that the| primacy might be blessed in every) way. I

Archdeacon Hawkins, for the clergy, conveyed sincere congratulations to the Primate-elect. He made the comment that the difficulty in the position in New Zealand was that the church had\ no general officer commanding with the authority of such an office and if more authority were attached to it more unity of expression might result and the Primate’s influence be greater. Mr. Andrews said that' it was the wish of the laity that the new Arch-, bishop would enjoy his high office for a long period and that God would; give him the strength to fill the office worthily and well, with wisdom, faithfulness and impartiality. In reply the Archbishop-elect said that it had always been his fortune to follow men who had filled their positions with distinction. As a dean h.e Lad followed Archbishop Julius, and now he was following Archbishop Averill After enjoying the retiring Archbishop’s fellowship, fatherly help and example he hoped he had some idea what a primate in the colonies ought to be. He thanked the speakers for their congratulations and hoped that the goodwill of all sections would result in the advancement of the church

FIXED SEE PROPOSAL. | NELSON, February 20. i A report submitted to General Synod '•suggested the establishment of a fixed i primacy in Wellington and placing the - provincial office of the secretary in ' the same centre., A motion that a com-' mittee report at the next session on practical steps to put into 'effect tlie .proposals met with considerable opi position. ! Synod was not prepared to vote on the principle of a fixed primacy and an amendment was carried having the ■. effect of setting up a commission to ! report to the next session on the de- ! sirability and practicability of .estqbliwhincr n fivnd nrimotiol <wn