POLYNESIAN PROBLEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1928, Page 4

POLYNESIAN PROBLEMS

Lecture by rev. c. a. fraer.

(Lyttelton “Times.”)

“The Church is indirectly responsible for our knowledge of the Pacific and may be said to be tho cause of our preseneo in the Pacific and" in New Zealand to-day,” said tho Rev C. A. Fraer, when lecturing at College House, Christchurch, on Monday night. The speaker then went on to give his impressions of Rarotonga, icceived during a visit from which he has lately returned. Staying there, lie seemed to get a new conception of “Maoriland,” coming into contact, as he did, with 4000 cousins of our Now Zealand Maoris, occupying land where once, he thought, for a time during their historic migration, our own natives had dwelt.

New Zealand was not just three islands standing alone, it was hut the outpost, the ultimate home of a race of people, the Polynesians, who already occupied many islands in chc Pacific. New Zealand was really on the threshold of a vast life which had an amazing and romantic history. European contact with tho Pacific elated from the sixteenth century. Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch—all had been in front of the English. It was not until 1577 that Sir Francis Drake had entered the Pacific. In 1769 came Cook’s voyages and the re-dis-coverey of New Zealand. Dealing with missionary work -the lecturer said that it was clue to the instigation of Dr Haweis, an English clergyman, that the newly formed London Missionary (Society sent a mission to Tahiti in 1795. The Jahitinn inter-tribal wars so interfered with the missionaries that they returned to Sydney. There they came into contact with Samuel Marsdon and returned Inter. The London Missionary Society, working under limitations, was doing much for the people. They had there'll training school for forty students; There were four solidly built churches in the island and the native pastors were supported by the people, their stipend being £4O a > ear. Tho natives themselves were very religious and had regular "Wednesday and Friday morning services.

The white population other than tliC 1 men of the administration, consisted of traders, planters, beach combers and derelicts. The lecture? thought things were not 100 well wifh them. There was the danger of indifference to he feared and lie hrd noticed a policy of drifting, a lac.c of cohesion and a want of initiative. Tho Church of England had seen a. call and in order to help her own people in these islands bad asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Bishop to work amongst them. IT' - : choice had fallen upon a New Zealander. The Bishop of Polynesia was d-> iug wonderful work and Tic was requiring‘helpers, He was face to with big problems, the problem of re- t Hgious divisions , and limited faith, | racial problems and industrial pro! - j loins. But there was much for the ; Government" to do, things were not . going tan well in Samoa, they wore j going bad in Rarotonga. The white , population brought its own difficulties hut at least we could care for the na- . tives. Medically much was being' done, educationally we were in earn- 1 es.t, hut mUcli at sea, industrially and ( economically there was much need to bestir ourselves. i