WAR ECONOMIES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21034, 9 February 1940, Page 7

WAR ECONOMIES

EFFECT IN MELANESIA WORK AMONG THE NATIVES BISHOP’S INTERESTING SURVEY An interesting survey of the mission work carried out in Melanesia, and the difficulties that had been created there as a result of the outbreak of war, was given in St. George’s Hall last night when an address was delivered by the Bishop of Melanesia, the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley. The speaker, who is spending a few weeks in New Zealand, dealt with several aspects of the work in the Islands and of the progress that was being made. A welcome to the Bishop was extended by the Rev. V. A. Bianch:, vicar of St. George’s Parish. It was a great pleasure to be able to meet the visitor, said the speaker, for many people had taken a keen interest in the work that was being carried out in Melanesia.

“With the outbreak of war we in Melanesia have come face to face with the problem of economising in our work,” said Bishop Baddeley. “In fact, some of the work will have to be shut down, due to the taxes and higher costs of living consequent on the war. The Melanesian teachers and other workers have been acquainted with the position, but they have replied that they are prepared to make sacrifices for the extension of the work of God in Melanesia. It is rather surprising to hear a black.man speak like that when, although his forefathers might not have been actual cannibals, they probably took part in the cannibalistic orgies.” Combating Leprosy The Church workers were in the nature of a big family, and any cutting down would affect all the members, continued the Bishop. One of the chief works undertaken in the Island’s was that of combating leprosy. In 1928, when Dr. Mabery made an investigation, he found that there were 600 lepers on the island of Malaita, in the Solomons. In addition, there were many more in the other islands. When approached for assistance the Government preferred to subsidise a mission organisation rather than establish a Government institution. This was done by the Church, with Dr. Mabery taking a big part, and before long the Government took a keen interest. When a Government survey was taken throughout the Solomons it was found that there were at least 900 lepers. The need for the erection of permanent buildings for the segregation and treatment of those afflicted with the disease was also stressed by the speaker. Maintenance Costs “We have been hoping against hope for the Government to adhere to its expressed policy of providing a subsidy for the work,” continued the speaker. “A number of buildings are already up, and there is money for the erection of a number more. However, money is needed for maintenance, and this is a'factor which must receive earnest consideration, for lepers must be scientifically and specially treated. A number of things have to be imported for them, and with the war and the consequently higher freights, the maintenance costs have risen considerably. One of the results has been that only a small proportion of the total of 900 lepers can receive ade - quate attention.” Problem of Disease After describing the cathedral that had been built by the natives at Siota, in the Solomon Islands, the Bishop dealt with the efforts that were being made by the Church workers to check the great infant mortality, which was rated at 400 per 1000. bisea 12 was a great problem, as was indicated by the fact that in 1907 in the Island of Ontong, Java, there was a population of 7000, which by April last year had shrunk to 665. Chieil-y as a result of white contacts, diseases which the natives were unable to resist had spread through the islands and the Church workers had a big job to improve the conditions. The scarcity of water in some areas was one of the factors which militated against cleanliness, the full essentials of which the natives had not yet learned.

Another difficulty introduced by the outbreak of war was the problem of providing teachers for the future of the mission work. The teachers were drawn from the schools, which in the first week of the war had to be reduced by 50 per cent as an economy measure. In another five years the position would be very acute, as at present it was difficult to provide sufficient teachers to meet the demand, and any retrenchment would increase the problem. Several phases of native life in the islands and the difficulties experienced in breaking down old prejudices against changes were dealt with by the Bishop, who also answered a number of questions. The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.

The Right Rev. W. H. Baddeley, D. 5.0., M.C., M.A., Bishop of Melanesia, had a distinguished record in the Great War, in which he served

with the Surrey Regiment. He entered the war as a second-lieutenant and four years later was a lieutenantcclonel in charge of his regiment. He has been Bishop of Melanesia since 1932.