THE WAIKATO DIOCESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 16

THE WAIKATO DIOCESE.

Sir, —So far as I am able to gather from tho reports in tho press and from inquiries from those who were present at the meeting of parishioners held in the Town Hall, Hamilton, on Wednesday night last, no mention was made of tfie great services rendered in the parish and diocese by the defeated candidate for the offices of people's warden and synodsman, Mr. Douglas Hay. Now, it seems to me that, as a mere matter of justice, something should have been said. From ono point of view, I daresay Mr. Hay is relieved to be out of office, but he should not have been allowed to go into retirement without some mention of his very great services to the church, whatever one may think of the causo with which he is associated in the minds of his opponents. Long before the possibility of the division of the diocese of Auckland came within our line of vision, Mr j Hay devoted much time and money to the improvement of the finances of the parochial district of Hamilton. When F was first suggested that part of tin revenue of Lot 50 should be devoted to tho stipend of a bishop of Waikato, no one was more keen than Mr. Hay in doing all that could be done to further the formation of a new diocese. Ever since then (1925) Mr Hay has worked tirelessly and given lavishly for the cause which he and others then had so much at heart Even when he was in England with tho New Zealand eleven, he did not cease to do what he could to belt) tho new and struggling diocese, by seeking to enlist the sympathy of those who were in a position to help. Since his return he and bis brother have provided a substitute for him in his. business in order that ho might be. free to do all that he could to help the diocese on to its feet. One could, possibly, say without fear of contradiction, that in one way and another he had done far more for tho church in the diocese and in his own oarish than any other man or woman whatsoever. I am sure that no one who rcallv knows the facts will hesitate to accord to Mr. Hay his heartfelt admiration for his constant and unselfish service, though some may feel with entire honesty that they were just in opposing .his election last Wednesday. May I say that I am sure Mr Hay will entirely disapprove of what I have written, but I feel strongly that mere justice demands that some notice should be taken of what 110 has done, and of this my letter has not told the half. E. M. Cowie, Archdeacon of Waikato. Hamilton, April 19.