CIVIC RECEPTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 6

CIVIC RECEPTION

BISHOP OF SINGAPORE FORMER PRISONER OF JAPANESE “ The British administration in Singapore was not nearly as bad as many people painted it. The stories that were told of the British leading an idyllic existence there were all rubbish. There was no 40-hour week in Singapore,” said the Rt. Rev. Leonard Wilson, Bishop of Singapore, at the civic reception which was extended to him and to Mrs Wilson in the Council Chamber yesterday. “It was no fault of the civilian population that morale was so low before the disastrous campaign which resulted in the fall of the city.” Bishop Wilson, who is visiting Dunedin to attend the General Synod of the Anglican Church, was ordained Bishop of Singapore early in 1941. He suffered imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Japanese for more than four years, though to-day his bronzed, bearded countenance reflects little of the suffering he was forced to endure. It should be remembered, in thinking of Singapore, he said, that only 48 per cent, of the population was Malayan. The remaining 52 per cent, was made up of Chinese, Indians, Europeans, and other races. Most of the work was done by Chinese. “ I cannot praise too highly the goodwill shown by the Chinese to us throughout our internment,” he added. “ Often they helped us at great risk to themselves.” Dealing with the future outlook for Malaya Bishop Wilson said that many changes for the better lay ahead. Sweeping changes were to be made in the constitution, and the Malayan people, who had generally given loyal service, would be granted a greater share of responsibility. At present the military administration was handicapped by the fact that many of the people in the administration did not understand the language. A large section of the population was suffering from malnutrition, chiefly because .of the difficulties of distributing food. Plenty of rice was available at controlled prices, but junks could not carry it around the coast because of the many Japanese mines that remained unswept. It would be some time before tin mines and rubber plantations commenced production again, and the country got back on its feet, but he thought it would recover before many other Eastern countries. “ Our prestige—for what prestige is worth—remains .extremely high in Malaya,” Bishop Wilson continued. “ If the Japanese had treated the local population better it might have been a different story, but as it was the natives were not adversely affected by the sight of Europeans doing coolie work, and generally they were sympathetic. Naturally there are some Malayans with nationalistic ambitions, but most have nothing but goodwill for us.” The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron), in extending a welcome to Bishop and Mrs Wilson, said that they came from an-area which had been much in the minds and hearts of the New Zealand people in recent years. Bishop Wilson had suffered terribly at the hands of the Japanese, and it was gratifying to see him looking so well. On behalf of the citizens of Dunedin he .welcomed them to the city. The Mayor welcomed the following bishops who are attending the synod: Archbishop West-Watson (Christchurch), Bishop W. J. Simkin (Auckland), Bishop C. A. Cherrington (Waikato), Bishop H. St. Barbe Holland (Wellington). Bishop P. W. Stephenson (Nelson), Bishop F. A. Bennett (Aotearoa), Bishop G. C. Cruickshank (Waiapu), and Bishop W. A. R. Fitchett (Dunedin). Short speeches of welcome to Bishop Wilson were also given by Archbishop West-Watson, Bishop Fitchett, and Mr H. P. Jefcoate (president of the Dunedin R.S.A.). Bishop Cruickshank briefly indicated his pleasure at being back in Dunedin.