GUIDANCE OF PRIMATE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1934, Page 6

GUIDANCE OF PRIMATE

SYNOD PAYS ITS TRIBUTE RETENTION OF SERVICES SOUGHT. CONSIDERATION BY ARCHBISHOP. NEW ARRANGEMENTS POSSIBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Resolutions seeking the retention of the services and guidance of Archbishop Averill, Primate of New Zealand, and deploring the possibility of his resignation were unanimously carried at the Synod of the Diocese of Auckland tonight. Canon Haselden moved that the clerical and lay members of the Synod desired to express to the Archbishop their affection and loyalty and that they would deeply deplore the possibility of his resignation. The Synod also desired to express the definite opinion that in the best interests of the diocese and the province it was essential that his valuable services and guidance should be retained for some time longer and to assure him of their prayers that Almighty God would continue to him his present health and vigour. The clergy and lay members desired to express to him their very sincere regret that circumstances of health made it necessary for some measure of relief to be afforded to Mrs. Averill from the strain of the maintenance of Bishop’s Court and requested that he would make such other arrangements as he might deem desirable. They asked that he would convey to Mrs. Averill the Synod’s very real sense of gratitude for all she had been to and done for members and assure her of their, prayers that her health might be restored. Canon Haselden said the honour of bringing forward the resolutions had fallen to him as he had now been in the diocese 74 years and a member of the clergy for 53 years. Archbishop Averill said that many years ago he had decided that on attaining the age of 70 he would consider his resignation. As he would attain that age before next Synod he had felt he would have to place the position before members at this session.

Although he had not been as vigorous himself in the past few years he was thinking more of the health of Mrs. Averill, who had taken a great deal of work upon her shoulders. However, he would do what he could to secure some measure of relief, particularly for Mrs. Averill.