MAORIS AND CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19931, 27 April 1928, Page 12

MAORIS AND CHURCH.

PROPOSED ASSISTANT BISHOP CONSIDERATION BY SYNOD. DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE. - V . [BY TELEGBArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The recommendation made by a select, committee urging the appointment of a Maori assistant bishop to exercise episcopal supervision over the Macris in their respective dioceses, was considered by General Synod at its session this evening. After the Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. W. W. Sedgwick, had moved a resolution which sought to give effect to the recommendation, synod went into committee to discuss the proposal.

Bishop Sedgwick said they all knew of the desire on the part of the native race for self-expression. It was no now thing on the part of the Maori people. It had been formulated in years gone by in the Young Maori Party. The Maori race had found self-expression in folk lore, in art and in other ways. Surely it was natural they should find it in the things that matter in the Church and in the ministry. It was felt by the committee that the Maori should have greater opportunities for self-expression by having a spiritual leader of their own race. The speaker then referred to the canon enacted in 1925 to create the diocese of Ao tea roa. He said this had proved inoperative, bat the extent of going so far had stirred the imagination of the Maori people. The committee felt that to appoint a Maori suffragan to the archbishop was impracticable. Although he had been somewhat wedded to the idea of a European bishop with a Maori suffragan the committee was of opinion that such a scheme would not win acceptance.

It was true that a bishop, as the committee suggested, would have no synod, neither would he be synodically represented on General Synod, but in a spiritual way he would be a unifying force among the Maoris in a way that no European could. "We cannot go back," said Bishop Sedgwick. "We feel that we must offer the Maoris something, and it was this problem we had to face. We must go on and try to meet the aspirations of the Maori people in a Maori appointment. ,We would have one who would appeal to the Maori consciousness. He should be able to gather up the fragments of the Maori people as no European could. If we pass this bill we will, I believe, be meeting the aspirations of the Maori people." He then moved the following resolution:— "That a statute be framed under which it may be competent for the bishops of the North Island dioceses in New Zealand, or a majority of them, to appoint a Maori assis7.ant bishop to exercise episcopal supervision over, and perform episcopal acts for, the Maoris in their respective dioceses." The motion was seconded by Mr. H. D. Andrews, of Christchurch. The synod then went into committee. The debate will be continued to-morrow.

WORK AMONG NATIVES. APPORTIONMENT OF COSTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. By far the greatest part of the cost of the work among Maoris in 1926-27 was borne by the North Island, according to the report of the sessional committee of the General Synod. The Christchurch Diocese gave £543 for this mission, and the Nelson Diocese £92. Nothing was received from other South Island dioceses. It was recommended that in order to secure more support for the work of the Maori mission, especially in the South Island, the missioti should be co-ordinated with the Board of Missions as soon as possible. . -