PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 11

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church met again yesterday in St. John’s Church under the presidency of the Moderator, the Rev. G. H. McNeur. The report on immigration was brought forward bv the Rev. G Inglis, who urged that the question touched the very life of the Church. Last year 10,965 immigrants reached New Zealand but the Presbyterian Church had gained onlv 340 members, or communicants. There were, of course, a large number of adherents, bnt they had no reason to flatter themselves on the figures. There was a tremendous leakage in that respect. He paid a tribute to the agent's of the church, who met the boats, and welcomed the new arrivals, but there should be a better method of notification between the ministers at Home and the local presbyteries regarding the people coming out. (Hear, hear). He suggested that paid agents should be. stationed at Auckland and Wellington, at salaries of £lOO a year, to meet immigrants, and attend to the matter properly. ’ - ■ The Rev. Harvev (Auckland) supported the proposal, stating the question had not been receiving proper attention. The immigrants : spread over the Dominion, but only Auckland and Wellington had attempted'to face the position. What was wanted was a proper scheme of land settlement, but he was afraid thev would wait for it in vain while the present Government was in office. The suggestions of the committee were referred to the presbyteries for consideration.

The Knox College Committee recommended that the positions of Master of Knox College, and Professor of Practical Training and the English Bible, be separated and that applications be called for the professorship in New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain, at a salary of not less than £6OO a vear. The recommendations were adopted. The suggestion was made in the Presbyterian Assembly yesterday that the Prime Minister should be cabled to in London, urging that no question relating to the condominium in the New Hebrides should be determined without full investigation on the spot, with a view to protecting British planters and British mission interests.

It was pointed out that the guestion was coming before the Imperial Conference, and that the Prime Minister had already stated he was doing his best, but the matter was a very difficult one. The Rev. J. D. McKenzie, who recentlv visited the Group, hoped they would avoid doing anything to irritate the French planters, who were in tlie majority. A cable message is to be sent to the Prime Minister on the subject. Resolutions were passed in favour of establishing a training institute for home missionaries; in favour of the urgent necessity of suspending mihtarv training operations on Sundays; against the system of art unions now in constant vogue, where gold nuggets are the principal prizes; and tbc running of Sunday excursion trains. The Assembly was unable to complete its business last night, and adjo "'.ued until this morning at 10 o’clock, when the. final sesscon will be heM.