PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1941, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE NEXT MODERATOR. REV. J. G. LAUGHTON CHOSEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, November 9. The Rev. John G. Laughton, Whakatane, superintendent of Maori Missions of the Presbyterian Church, was appointed Moderator-Designate by the Assembly. He was nominated by all Presbyteries in the Dominion except Wairarapa, which nominated the Rev. J. D. Wilson, New Plymouth, but Mr. Wilson withdrew in favour of Mr. Laughton. Moving the election of M r - Laughton, the Very Rev. T. H. Rosevear, Tauranga, told the Assembly of the work Mr. Laughton had done in the Maori Mission field. In 1943 there would occur the centennial of Maori mission work, and it was an indication of the desire of the Church that Mr. Laughton should be Moderator then when his nomination was so widely favoured, said Mr. Rosevear. He recalled that Mr. Laughton came to New Zealand 38 years ago, and went to do home mission work in Pio Pio. He grew to have a great interest in the Maori people and later went to Maungapohatu. Ever since *he had been guide, counsellor and friend of the mission staff.

Mr. T. I. Steel (Opotiki) said the nomination of Mr. Laughton was an honour to the Maori people, the Maori Church and Maori missions. “The whole Maori race is proud of him,” he said. Mr. Laughton was a great Maori linguist. It had been truthfully said that not even the Maori could speak the language as he could. It was recognised that in New Zealand there were only two people who could speak Maori perfectly. One was Sir Apirana Ngata and the other Mr, Laughton.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS. MEETING OF DOMINION COUNCIL (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, This Day. At the meeting of the Dominion Council of Sunday School Teachers, Dr. J. D. Salmond, Youth Director, was in the chair. The annual report revealed that the number of scholars in the Presbyterian Sunday Schools had increased by 700, and that the number of male teachers had decreased by 69. The Home Sunday School department now had 330 families connected with it. The report stressed the need for encouraging the Brigade movement for embarking on a wise policy of temperance education, and for extension work in new housing suburbs. The report expressed concern at the increase of juvenile delinquency and urged Sunday School teachers to co-operate with others in grappling with it. The Council agreed that the time was opportune for a nation-wide emphasis on the vital importance of Christian education.