major P-NG problems

Anglicans seek answers to major P-NG problems

From SUSAN YOUNG in Port Moresby Native clergy and laity of the Anglican Church in Papua- New Guinea had their first taste of what it will be like one day to run their own affairs when they attended the first Diocesan Conference at Dogura recently.

IF the way in which they par ticipated at the conference is any thing to go by, they have every reason to feel confident about the future.

They spoke up vigorously from the start and showed a lively interest even when, during the first few days, the proceedings got bogged down in the sort of wearying tech nicalities that seem to be an inevit able feature of most large Western style meetings.

It was a refreshingly honest meet ing, with little time spent on self congratulation. Delegates from the start recognised that the Church was facing prodigious problems and there after settled down to try to thrash out at least some of the answers.

They divided into six commissions charged with discussing the affairs and policies of the Church in detail.

The education commission returned to tell the conference bluntly that the Church would probably have to start closing some outstation schools and reducing the number of children in others because of a teacher short age.

School fees likely

And it also seems likely as a re sult of a commission recommenda tion that the Anglicans will start charging school fees, though con firmation of this is still awaited.

Another commission suggestion was for an intensified teacher recruiting campaign, both in Australia and the territory; and a full-time Diocesan Director of Education is to be appointed to help tackle the formid able array of educational problems.

It was the “Church in the Nation”

Commission, however, under the chairmanship of Canon lan Stuart, Rector of Port Moresby, which pro duced the most impressive list of recommendations and statements.

They began by cautioning all Anglicans to exercise “the greatest care” in choosing their candidates in biext year’s House of Assembly elections.

In effect, the commission told

churchmen that they should look for men who would work hard in the House especially for the following objects: • A greater sense of national unity and a breaking down of the barriers which divide the people of the Territory. • An extension of education to give as many children as possible an adequate schooling. • The encouragement in every way possible of fast economic de velopment. • Orderly political development with greater use of Papuans and New Guineans in the executive side of government.

Natural pace urged

The commission declared that eventual independence was the “natural right and destiny of the people” of Papua-New Guinea.

They called for political progress, which, on one hand, would not be so slow as to provoke a frustrated people into rebellion and on the other not so fast as to lead to chaos and civil war.

Of the emerging political parties, the commission said they were a natural development. But on no account should the Church identify itself with any one party. Christians should feel free to join, or not join, any party as they wished.

Then the commission turned to segregation and discrimination. These were on the wane, it said, but added that the economic gulf which sep arated overseas and local people was still a source of much envy, resent ment and possible conflict.

The commission noted that there was little social mixing of the races and suggested more to encourage greater understanding and goodwill.

Next, the commission made what to many is surely a debatable re commendation—that the Church should invest in territory industries and real estate, to help both itself and the people.

It was also suggested that the

(continued on p. 135)

Church should bring in more missionaries who are experts in fields like agriculture to help Papuans and New Guineans exploit their own re sources.

After that, the commission took a crack at the housing situation in towns.

All employers, it said, had a re sponsibility to provide adequate housing for their workers. Married accommodation was particularly needed to prevent the separation of husbands and wives, which the com mission attacked as “harmful”.

It “viewed with alarm” the drift of young people to the towns. It said it was natural that young people should do this, but they should receive more advice from Church leaders about the difficulties likely to be encountered in the towns.

Often, unable to find either work or lodging, these people had to impose themselves on relatives who were usually ill-equipped to support anyone other than their own immediate families.

For Papuans and New Guineans on the Church staff, the conference held at least one cheerful note. They are to get better working conditions.

A pay rise has been approved—de tails are expected soon—and a pension scheme drawn up by an Aus tralian firm is to be introduced.

The first of its sort to be operated by the Anglican Church, it will in volve a weekly payment of 50 cents, half to be paid by the worker and half by the Diocese. • Sweet-toothed Solomon Islanders are in for better things. The Joy Biscuit Factory at Kukum, Guadal canal, is to install an automatic sweet biscuit-making machine, imported from West Germany. The new machine is part of $28,000 of im provements and extensions to be made to the factory and staff quarters.