MAORI DIOCESE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3551, 16 October 1926, Page 3

MAORI DIOCESE.

HON. NGATA’-S BOMBSHELL.

MAORIS MIGHT LEAVE THE CHURCH.

The Maori paper, Te Toa Tcikitini, gives an interesting account of the discussions by the Maori delegates who met at Wellington some time ago, over the question of the appointment of a bishop for the Maori diocese of Aotearoa.

All the Auckland delegates, influenced by the advice) of the Archbishop, favoured the appointment of a white man, but the southern representatives from the W'aiapu and Wellington dioceses) persisted in the determination to appoint a Maori for the Maoris. The Rev. F. A. Bennett was the only southern member who favoured a white man. He and others feared if they opposed the wish of the bishops, they might leave their diocese altogether, while others who agreed with him thought the bishops were right in their contention that there was not one Maori able to organise the new diocese.

HON. A. T. NGATA SUGGESTED. On the other hand the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who had led the pro-Maori section* pointed out the wish of the Maori race was for a Maori bishop, and as the delegates were the representatives of the people they should carry out that wish. This was his own wish also, for only a Maori, lie thought, could understand the Maori.

Mr Hori Tupaea, of Hawke’s Bay, thought it Avas high time the Maori people had forged ahead instead of marking time. He knew the Northern delegates were influenced by the Archbishop and he Avas surprised to see the Maori clergy preferring a Avliite man for the bishop of the Maoris. Perhaps they did not care to become bishops themselves. If that Avere so, then let them make the Hon. A. T. Ngata their bishop.

The ReA\ Pine Tamahori said the delegates Avere bound to respect, the wish of their oavh people, Cor the diocese would not thrive unless it had the sympathy of the people. Mr Kingi Taliiwi, of Wellington, also supported strongly the appointment of a Maori, for said* he, “university education is not. the sine qua non for a bishop of the Maoris, but insight into the Maori mind and character.”

The Hon. A. T. Ngata threw a bombshell into the discussion by stating that if the bishops persisted in flouting the Avish of the Maori people, the East Coast tribes might break away from the Church.