SUDAN UNITED MISSION

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1931, Page 10

SUDAN UNITED MISSION

WSRE, STATIONS REQUIRED.

INTIMATION BY GOVERNMENT.

Leaders of the Sudan United Mission in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, where the work is largely staffed and supported by New Zealand, have recently had a striking challenge made them by the Government of that far-stretching province. The Government, which has always regarded the work of the mission most favourably, has intimated that it is very desirous ,that the mission should establish at least four further stations among tribes of the Nuba • Mountain Province that are as yet untouched by any civilising influence.

The Government cannot, however, continue its support and leave the way clear for the mission indefinitely and it has therefore intimated that unless the proposed stations are opened within a epriod of five years special privileges will be withdrawn and other means found of reaching the people. An important decision has been made by the Government to adopt Arabic in Roman letters as the, lingua fraca of the Nuba Mountains Province and to have it taught in all schools. While this will mean that in most cases missionaries will hqve to master Arabic as well as a local native language, it will greatly simplify problems of translation and will tend to make intercourse between different parts of the country much easier,