MAORI DIOCESE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18659, 7 April 1926, Page 5

MAORI DIOCESE.

RESOLUTIONS OF ANGLICAN ARAWAS. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELESBAM.) ROTORUA, April 6. A representative meeting" of the Church of England members of the Arawa tribe was held at Ohinemutu on April 4th and sth. The following resolutions were adopted:- ■ (1) This meeting of the Arawa tribe adhere to the memorandum placed before the Bishops' Conference held at Rotorua on June 24th, 1925, the last clause of which reads as follows: —"The Committee feels it to be its duty to inform the Conference that amongst the Maori Church people there is generally. expressed a desire that the Bishop at the head of the mission be a member of the Maori race, but at-the same time they view the difficulties' which would of neccesity surround the office of Bishop. In the first appointment the Committee does not wish to stress the point, and would welcame the appointment were the Bishop pakeha or Maori." (2) While we recognise the many difficulties standing i,n the way of the Bishops agreeing to the appointment of a Maori as first Bißhop of the new diocese, we would respectfully point out that there are also Btrong on the Maori side why they prefer a Maori as a Bishop. While, therefore, they are prepared to give loyal support to a European as first Bishop, they, at the same time, in the interests of ■ the Church as a whole, earnestly hope that -means will be found to make an appointment at an early date as possible of an assistant Bishop, who shall be a member of the Maori race. They fur* ther irust that the Bishop will be able to give this proposal the wholehearted support of General Synod.