Methodist Missionaries

Eager to Return to New Guinea

THE General Secretary of the Methodist Mission, the Rev. J. W. Burton, stated at the annual meeting of the Mission Board, that, although negotiations for the return of their Papuan mission aries had been going on practically since the evacuation of that Territory early in 1942, and, although he had been in con stant touch with the Department of External Territories, so far no permission had been given. In reply to a letter he had written to the Department on January 25 of this year, he had been told simply that it was not possible for civilians to return to this area.

It will be remembered that, through some misunderstanding of the orders at the time of the general evacuation of Papua, the Methodist missionaries were forced to leave the Territory, although missionaries of other denominations were permitted to stay.

Now, however, that planters are to be allowed ot return to Papua, it would seem hardly consistent if the Department of External Territories denies these mis sionaries permission to return also.

The mission has asked specially that the Revs. M. K. Gilmour. E. *A. Clarke, H.

K. Bartlett and H. T. Williams be allowed to proceed to their mission stations, and these four men are holding themselves in readiness.

The sum of £2,590 had been contributed to the Indian Fighter Fund of Fiji, up to February 10, 1943.