MAORI AND PAKEHA

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 133, 8 July 1929, Page 5

MAORI AND PAKEHA

WORK OF CHURCH OF ENGLAND. NEED FOR CO-OPER ATION . "There must be no idea 'of separation because the Maori people have a Maori Bishop," said the Bishop of Aotearoa (Right Rev. F. A. Benuett), when making a strong plea for co-oper-ation between the Maori and pakeha elergy from the pulpit of St. Paul's Pro-Catliedral, Wellington, at the special synod service on Tuesday, and at which the prayers and Jessons were said in the Maori language hy the Superintendent of tlie Maori Mission (Canon "A. Williams). "Popularity is not whafc we are aimng or," said Bishop Bennett, as lie referred to tlie work of the (Mauri Mission. "Popularity is not an indication of success, popularity is not t.he goal of our work; wliat we want to do is to he faitliful and loyal to riie Captain of our salvation. Some of us havre felt despioiident on tlie part of tlie Maori Mission; that we have been toiling all night and have taken nothing. But, travellhig around during tlie pasfc six montlis, I havo seen indications that times have clianged. Men and Avomen of the Maori raee tlirougliout the length and breadth of New Zealand are seeking for God. Because of certain temptations in their way m tho past, tliey have left tlie fold and joined certain schisms. Whercver we have gone oue notices a revival of interest among tlie Maori people. "My bretliren of the Churc-h," said the Bishop, as he addressed the pakeha clergy in partieular, "we beckon to you who have given us so much in the past. There must he no idea of scparauion because we have a Maori Bishop. There must be more and more co-oji-eration. We realise that as a race _we have our wealcnesses, but in additiou !o this you will realise that there are certain conditions of our civlisation that should not exist, hut do exist, and that tliey have worked ha'voc among the Maori people. We are heckoning to you still to help us in building up tho work of our Maori people." The Bishop said that in some quarters there was opposition to the work of the Churcli. He said that when he was at Waitara recently a man had stod up and said: "I liave 110 time for you bisliops and believe all _ our troubles have been caused hy hisiops ; my ancestors were ; burnt alive at Rangiwahia hy pakeha soldiers, and Bishop Selwyn ivas among them." Bishop Bennett said that that was an ■instance of some of the opposition tlie Churcli has to face. Tlie leading chiefs present, however, had spoken very strongly to this man and answeved his criticisms. It would be seen tliat such was not the general attitude of the Maoris to the Churcli, but that it. was ouly here and there they encountered opposition. "I hope we will always realise." concluded Bishop Bennett. "that there is only one Churcli. and not a Maori church and a pakeha churcli. We are parties together, and we all want to emphasise more and more tliat we are only one people. I liope_ in the day to ' come to see the Maori clergy helping .the pakeha clergy in one another's work, and the pakeha assisting the Maori in his work."-