WORK AMONG MAORIS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22393, 6 July 1944, Page 4

WORK AMONG MAORIS

MISSION TERMED A “FARCE” DIFFICULTIES IN WAIKATO “Our Maori mission work is a complete farce—there is no other word to describe it,” said the Bishop of Waikato, the Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington, at the Diocesan Synod yesterday during a discussion on the work of the mission. The Bishop commented on the lack of native clergy and the shortage of trained workers, observing that one Maori priest and five or six women travelling about in various parishes could not hope to cope with the work. No assistance could expected from other dioceses, which faced the difficulty of ageing Maori clergy with no younger men to take their place. No Maori clergy had been ordained for four years and there did not seem any hope of getting any more for about ten years, said Bishop Cherrington. Although the facilities in the way of bursaries were available for the training of young Maoris for the work of the Church, there were none offering. With a sum of money which was expected to be available shortly it was hoped to erect hostels for Maori boys and girls. Assistance of Clergy Work among the Maoris was being done by the clergy of the diocese, in most cases very well, continued Bishop Cherrington, who mentioned the success of regular Maori services held at Gordonton by the Rev. H. J. Williams. No one was satisfied with the present state of affairs, but the best was being done in the circumstances. The Bishop observed that it was ridiculous to ask women to come 12,000 miles to the country to do work which could easily be done by New Zealand women, while the latter were taking up missionary work in India, North China and Africa. Archdeacon Oulds, superintendent of the Maori mission in the diocese, made an appeal that Maoris who attended European services should be made welcome and that no distinctions should be drawn.

REPORT TO WAIKATO SYNOD “There are still, unfortunately, wide areas within the diocese with a numerous Maori population where, owing to lack of staff, very little regular work can be done at present, particularly in the South Country and on the West Coast,” said the superintendent of the Maori Mission, Archdeacon G. F. W. Oulds, in his report to the Waikato Diocesan Synod yesterday. “ But it is pleasing to note,” he added, “that an increasing number of vicars are taking a sympathetic interest in the Maori people within their parishes, which, as confidence is gained, will bear fruit in due season.” Archdeacon Oulds paid a tribute to the efforts of the veteran Canon Karaka and the other full-time Maori workers in the diocese, and said the work of the mission had been steadily maintained and in some directions extended during the past year. The following figures were quoted:—State school attendances at religious classes: 8487 Maori: 15,335 European; Sunday school classes, 4140 Maori; 1441 European; visits to Maori homes and to Maori patients in hospitals, 5253.