MAORI BISHOP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3787, 3 May 1928, Page 2

MAORI BISHOP.

BILL PASSED BY SYNOD

The desire of the Maoris to have a Bishop of their own reached a stage considerably nearer realisation when the Anglican General Synod on Monday put through all its stages a “Bill to provide for the episcopal supervision of the Maori race.” Archdeacon Williams had charge of the measure, the discussion on which was taken in committee.

In, introducing the Bill, the Archdeacon said that for all practical purposes they had had a full discussion of the matter. There were certain ’ provisions, however, which would necessitate careful consid j eration in order to safeguard the rights of the dioceses in which the be constituted the office of a Biposed that the nomination of the Maori Bishop should proceed from the Bishops of the North Island dioceses, seeing that nine-tenths of the Maori population was in the North Island.

The Bill as finally passed provides that, subject to the rights of the diocese of Waiapu, there shall be constituttd the office of a Bishop suffragan to be Bishop of the said diocese, the holder of such office to be known as the Bishop of Aotea Roa. The nomination of such a Bishop shall proceed from the Bishops of the dioceses of the inated being a member of the Maori race, either reputedly Maori Maori by descent, half-caste Maori, or the child of such half-‘caste. No- nomination is to be made until the majority of the Bishops of the North Island shall be satisfied as to the arrangements for a stipend of not less than £SOO a year, and for the provision of a suitable residence and of reasonable travelling allowances. The Maori [Bishop is to hold office as suffragan to the Bishop of Wjaiapu, and is to have a seat in General Synod. An addition to the Bill provides for the establishment of a Maori Pastorate Board, and the Synod of each North Island diocese is empowered to make such regulations as it may think fit for fixing the number of qualification of Maori lay representatives to sit in such Synod, and for the method of their election.