AOTEAROA CHURCH CONFERENCE.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 3, 1 May 1939, Page 6

AOTEAROA CHURCH CONFERENCE.

The opening of the new carved meeting house at Whangara, fourteen miles north of Gisborne, m Easter week was made the opportunity for the holding of the Triennial Conference of Maori Church leaders for the whole of the North Island, and the annual Maori Choir competitions. Those present at the gathering inreluded the Archbishop, who was attended by Archdeacon Hawkins, the Bishop of Waiapu and Mrs. Gerard, the Bishop of Aotearoa* and Mrs. Bennett, Canon and Mrs. W. G. Williams, Dr. T. Wirepa and Mr. Reweti Kohere. The whole conduct of the

three-days' proceedings was m the hands of Sir Apirana Ngata. .''

The Archbishop and the Bishops of Waiapu arid Aotearoa were welcomed on the marae on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 11th, and the opening service of the conference was held m the open air m the evening, with a congregation of about five hundred. The Bishop of Waiapu gave an inspiring address on the constitution of man as a spiritual being, basing his remarks m an arresting and original way on the contrast between himself and a calf which he met on an early morning walk.

The conference was opened at ten o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, 12th, with a few introductory remarks by the Bishop of Aotearoa. He was followed by Sir Apirana Ngata and Dr. Wirepa, who both expressed the warm appreciation of the large gathering of the Maori tribes at having with them the Archbishop, the new Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop Bennett, who had recently returned from the International Missionary conference at Madras, and Archdeacon Hawkins, who was an old friend of the Maori people and an old school-fellow of several of the elders present. Both speakers expressed regret that the present would be the Archbishop's last official visit to the Maoris of the East Coast district. Sir Apirana Ngata concluded his remarks with an appeal to the Maori clergy to take their collars off and to speak the truth as representatives of the Maori race. The Arch-: bishop m his reply said that he was reviving happy memories m this return visit to the East Coast. It was thirty years since he first came to the district as Bishop of Waiapu. He trusted that m all their deliberations they would face their various problems from the Christian point of view. What we needed to-day was to get down to the truth, and that meant getting back to Him Who is the Truth. He assured Sir Apirana Ngata that they would keep their collars, on and so speak the truth. In calling on the Bishop of Aotearoa to give his address on the Tamberam Conference, he said what a great thing it had been to have the Church of New Zealand represented at that

great international gathering of Christians by the Maori Bishop. r Bishop Bennett then gave an interesting account, both m Maori arid English, of the Tamberam Conference showing what a wonderful testimony to the power of the Gospel to united peoples of every race and Christian denomination that great gathering had been. He said he had heard that his action m going to the conference had been criticised by some, but he reminded the gathering that he had gone at the special request of the General Synod, and his expenses had been arranged . by that body. At the conclusion of his address Archdeacon Hawkins moved a vote of appreciation of the way m which the Bishophad represented the Church at the conference, and this was seconded by Sir Apirana Ngata and carried by. acclamation. 1 Others who took part m the discussion were the Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. Wirepa and Mr. Reweti Kohere. „ ; The next subject on the agenda was"The Church and Youth," which was. introduced by Dr. Wirepa. He said that the Church was failing to attract the. young people between the ages, of sixteen and thirty. The Rev. K. T. Harawira said we needed to begin, with the young people before the age of sixteen, and that the years from, twelve to sixteen were the most critical. He gave an interesting account of his own experiences with the Boys' Brigade and Girls' Life Brigade, and as an instance of their, practical helpfulness m the work of the Church he told how his own church committee at Ohinemutu was; now being saved the sum of £13 a year for church cleaning, as this: work was now done voluntarily by the young peoples' brigades. The Archbishop said that we needed to< begin with the child long before the age of twelve, and that we must get' back to the teaching of young children m the homes and m the primary schools. Messrs. Friday Tomoana, Reweti Kohere, Major Verco and the Rev. W. N. Panapa, of Auckland, also^ took part m the discussion. Mr. R. P. Wilder, representing theTe Aute Trustees, gave a very clear, illuminating account of the educational policy and the present financial position of Te Aute College and.

the Hukarere School. He explained the serious financial blow which had fallen on both these institutions as a result of the earthquake, necessitating the expenditure of over sixteen thousand pounds for repairs. The schools would also be seriously handicapped for the future by a reduction of two thousand three hundred pounds a year m the amount of the rents. At the present time there was also a sum of two thousand five hundred pounds outstanding for fees. The trustees had been compelled to reduce the number of pupils at the colleges, and it would obviously not be right, he said, to allow pupils who had not paid their fees to remain at the schools while others who were prepared to pay were refused admittance. A very full and frank discussion of the whole position arid present efficiency of the Maori Church Colleges followed Mr. Wilder's address, the first speaker being Sir Apirana Ngata. Others who took part were the Archbishop, the Bishop of Waiapu (who appealed to the Maori people to support their schools more generously), Mr. Reweti Kohere, Dr. Wirepa, Mr. H. Wikiriwhi, Mr. Charlie Ryand and the Rev. Te H. Kaa.

The difficult question of the liquor amongst the Maoris was introduced m a broadminded and thoughtiul speech by the Bishop of Waiapu. He pointed out that no law for the moral betterment of a people could really become effective without the .goodwill of the people. We must remember also the Christian principle, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient." It might be necessary to pass legislation restricting the sale of liquor to a young race, but these laws would not achieve their purpose unless they were backed by public opinion. A lengthy discussion followed the opening address, m which Sir Apirana Ngata, Dr. Wirepa, Bishop Bennett and eight other speakers took part. The general opinion seemed to Toe that the only solution of the problem lay m the creation of a stronger public opinion by the Maori elders m the various districts and m the strengthening of the authority and influence of the Maori councils.

On the Thursday morning the official opening of the new carved meeting house, Paikea, was performed by the Archbishop, assisted by the Bishop of Waiapu, the Bishop of Aotearoa and about twenty Maori and pakeha clergy, who walked, m procession from the church to the marae. At the conclusion of a short and impressive service the Archbishop congratulated the local representatives of the Ngati Poroii tribe on this latest addition to the many fine carved houses which the tribe has erected m the past few years. The collection taken up at the opening ceremony amounted to £1120, and out of this offering the committee decided to contribute the sum of £500 to Maori Church work.

The two evenings of the conference were taken up with the annual choir competitions between the choirs of Hikurahgi, Whangara and Kohupatiki m Hawke's Bay. The many full choir and quartette items reached a very high standard of musical and technical perfection. The trophy for the highest aggregate points was won by the Kohupatiki Choir. Unfortunately the conductors of both the Kohupatiki and Whangara choirs were prevented by illness from being present, and the bulk of the work of conducting the three choirs devolved upon Mr. S. King, of Hikurangi. .