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Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1928, Page 2

After thirty years’ successful work amongst the Maori adherents of the Church of England, the Rev. F. A. Bennett Ims been appointed Bishop of Ao-te-roa. holding the office as a suffragan bishop to the Bishop of AVaiapn, with episcopal supervision over members of the Maori race, not only in the diocese of Waiapu, hut also in the dioceses of any other bishops who may wish him to exercise such supervision. By these conditions certain

difficulties have been overcome. No appointment, says the Auckland Star, could have been more suitable. Mr Bennett enjoys the confidence of all parties in the Anglican Church, and lie also has the esteem and respect of the Maori ruco. The desire of the Maori clergy to have a bishop of their own, and one able to understand their people, lias been .made evident at every synod where the matter lias been raised. ilr Bennett is a sound churchman, but he realises that Church teaching has to be expounded in simpler form for some than for others. He is am eloquent preacher of the mission type, and he lias held many successful missions in various settlements. He is also practical, and at Rotorua ho did not hesitate to deal with the difficult problem raised by the influence of certain classes of tourists on the mora'i life of the natives. The! An®lj«n|n Cl lurch throughout the world is coming to realise more and more that native churches must .be self-governing, and that, growing in accordance with their own traditions and outlook, they are destined to make their own contributions to the general life of 'the Church universal. Hitherto the Maori clergy have seldom lx-en able to make their influence felt in synod discussions or to present their own point of view with effectiveness. For many years their financial condition was deplorable. We may reasonably expect, concludes the Star, that Mr Bennett’s appointment will put them in a much better position to carry on the work which they liavo done with courage and perseverance under circumstances that have often been far from encouraging.