Plight of African Native Arouses Mission Appeal

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Plight of African Native Arouses Mission Appeal

MARITZBURG, S. Af.—A plea for greater consideration of the nativo peoples was made at a recent conference of the Methodist Church in South Africa. “The African natives,” said the Rev. A. A. Wellington, president of the conference, “arc poorer to-day than they havo been for at least 50 years. Many of them live in a state of semi-starva-tion. So far as the reserves are concerned, the present inhabitants must find work ouisido or starve; tins is true even of the Transkei.” "Can the picture be painted in any but drab colours} Can no machinery be created that will enable us to distribute maize to starving human be- 1 ings at the pneo we do to rich men’s cattle/” the minister asked, continu"Cannot our economists make it possible for tho man upon whose labour we so completely depend to purchase his meal and his sugar ut soincUnng approximate to the price we dump ihese commodities on foreign shores} “We can, if wo like, build a better country on the basis of traterualism and co-operation. If only for a little while wo could forget our nationalities and our relationships as employers and euqiloyed—white or coloured —most of our balfiing problems would solve themselves. Even if difficulties are rising like mountains, we know of no moratorium of missions. The work or the Church must continue.” History Repeated. Two clergymen, one highly educated and the otfier quite tho opposite, were discussing tho value of education. “1 suppose,” said the latter, “that you have goue through college.” “Yes, 1 have,” modestly replied the minister. “Well,” declared he of little education, ”1 am thankful that the Lord opened my mouth without an education.” “Yes,” courteously assented the other. “A similar thing, wo are to l * 1 happened in Balaam’s time. ’ * <S> Foresight. “Are there any questions you would liko to ask about your new house!” inquired the architect. “Just one,” replied the man W'ho intended to build. “Could you stick in an extra room gome place, so when my wife takes the den lor a sewing room, I’ll have a place to call my own!” <S> <& Experience. Appropos the recent reference to applications for a situation, a reader rolates that a shipping firm received a letter from a youth applying for an office boy’s job stating: “1 have been constructing and sailing model yachts for some years now, so that I have a little shipping experience.—Edinburgh Dispatch.