MAORI MISSION WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 12

MAORI MISSION WORK.

NEED FOR MORE CLERGY.

POLICY IN WAIKATO DIOCESE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Tuesday. The policy of Bishop Cherrington to improve the relations existing between Maoris and Europeans in the Waikato Diocese and to stimulate the Maori mission has been entrusted to Archdeacons E. M. Cowie and F. G. Evans, in the archdeaconries of Waikato and Taranaki. Referring to the work to-day, Archdeacon Cowie said there were 10,000 Maoris ii the diocese, the majority of whom lived in the Waikato archdeaconry. There were four Maori clergymen in the diocese, three of whom lived at Huntly, Morrinsville and Te Kuitk respectively, in the Waikato archdeaconry, and one at Waitara, in Taranaki. These men, whose stipends had been recently increased, were still underpaid, while their numbers were totally inadequate. They were required to cover immense areas of territory, but they wero very good workers, and were rendering splendid service. To do justice to the work, however, more clergy and missionary women wero needed. Among the duties of the present clergy was to keep in touch with the boys and girls who had passed through St. Stephen's and Victoria Colleges. Many of the Maoris, continued the archdeacon, were semi-pagan, largely as the resu\t of the Waikato and Taranaki wars. There still existed a feeling of suspicion regarding the European, and his religion, and the feeling was very difficult to overcome.

An opportunity to help the Maori mission, said Archdeacon Cowie, would be given to church people throughout tho Waikato diocese on Sunday, August 7, when the whole of the offertories would be devoted to the mission.