BSI Government

Missions Do Not Like BSI Government Plans for Education

MISSIONARIES in the British Solomon Islands have not been favourably impressed by some aspects of the new education programme outlined to them by the BSI Administration.

A Director of Education and a School Inspector were recently appointed to the

Bsi.

Reporting to the* foreign mission de partment of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, the Rev. J. F. Goldie, who has spent over 40 years in the Central Solomons, states that in his conversa tions with the Director of Education, he • made it clear that the Methodist Mission would insist on full control of its mission schools. Mr, Goldie said that he re garded this control as a principle of fundamental importance from which his mission must not deviate.

In a report which Mr. Goldie sent later to the Methodist Foreign Mission Board in New Zealand, he said: “In November an Educational Confer ence was arranged by the Resident Com missioner. All Christian missions were represented . . . even the Seventh Day Adventists who, like the Roman Catholics, usuallv refuse to co-operate with the other missions, sent representatives. Two sur prises came into view during the Confer ence.

“First, the amazing view of the Com missioner with regard to what he de scribed as ‘co-operation with Christian Missions in educational matters.’ It seemed to me and others rather like the Irishman’s view of reciprocity—all on one side. ‘The Government was to assist the Missions by inspection and Government control. No financial assistance was to be given, although £20,000 had been placed on the estimates for educational purposes.

This was evidently meant to be used to erect a Central Training College,, and to provide more officials and vessels for them to get round in. The customs’ duties on all material for educational pur poses imported by the Missions were to remain. The native teachers, who are de clining much higher salaries in order to assist their people in this great work, are to be taxed, as His Honor says that he will not agree to any ‘tax-free class in the Protectorate.’ This is in marked con trast to the attitude of the New Guinea Administration, which is rendering sub stantial financial assistance to Missions for their educational and medical work.

“The other surprise was the absolute unanimity of the Missions It was agreed that a Church Council be formed which would enable the churches to co operate on all matters affecting the welfare of the natives. This was apparently the only good that came out of the Conference. Every member—with the possible exception of the officials— came away with a feeling of disappoint ment and frustration.

“Every Mission refused to surrender the right to establish and maintain its own Training’ Institution in preference to sending their students to a Government Central Training College in which God and religion would be ignored.

“The Government is under very great financial obligation to the Christian Missions. But for the work of the Missions in educating the natives, the native Civil Service— equal to anything in the Pacific —would have been quite

impossible.”