MAORI DIOCESE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17154, 2 October 1926, Page 5

MAORI DIOCESE

THE NATIVE VIEWPOINT HON. NGATA’S BOMBSHELL (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Maori paper, To Ton Takitini, 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 hv the advice of the Archbishop. favored the appointment of a white man, hut the southern representatives, from the Waiapu 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 favored a white man. He and others feared if they opposed the wish of the bishops they might lose their diocese altogether, while others who agreed wbth him thought the bishops wore fight in their contention that there was not one Maori able to organise the now diocese. , On the other hand, the Hon. A. 1. Ngata, who led the pro-Maori section, pointed out the wish of the Maori race was for a Maori bishop, and as iho delegates were the representatives of the people they should carry out that wish. That was his own wish also, for only a Maori, he thought, could understand the Maori. Mr. Hori Tupaea, of Hawke’s Bay, thought it was high time the Maori people had forged ahead instead of marking time. lie knew the northern delegates were influenced by the Archbishop and he was surprised to see the Maori clergy preferring a white man for bishop of the Maoris. Perhaps they did not care to become bishops themselves. If that were so, then let them make the Hon. A. T. Ngata their bishop. . • , The Rpv. Pine. Tamaliori said the delegates. were bound to respect the wish of their own people, for the diocese would not thrive unless it had the sympathy of the people. Mr. King! Tahiwi, of Wellington, also supported strongly the appointment of a, Maori, for said he, "university education is not, the sine qua non for a bishon of the Maoris, but insight into the Maori mind and character.” The Hon. A. T. Ngata throw a bombshell into the discussion by stating that if the bishons persisted in flouting the wish of the Maori people tho East Coast tribes might break away from the church.