RATANA.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1921, Page 1

RATANA.

HIS NORTH ISLAND TOUII

AUCKLAND, June 8

An interesting arrival in Auckland today was Ratana, the Maori “faith healer,” who arrived by the Ngapuhi from Tawranga with a large number of followers who had accompanied him on his tour right from the West Coast, where his home is situated. That it was quite a formidable party may be gauged from th 0 fact that its expenses for the overland journey by motor-cars from Napier came to about £I3OO. Ilatana does not take any money from those he cures. He says (so his followers report) that he knows the power would go out of him if he were to take money for what he does, or rather what the Almighty does through his agency. Fortunately ho is a man of means. He was a farmer down Wanganui, way, and owns some property there. J ust as Gandhi has achieved such wonderful ascendancy over the natives of India by his self-denial and asceticism, so the disinterestedness of Ratana has a powerful effect on the Native mind.

For the past few weeks Ratana and his following have been visiting the Hawke’s Bay ,Gisborne, and Bay of Plenty Natives, in response to many invitations, as there were a lot of people anxious to see him who could not travel over to his part of the island. At each village or settlement he has been preaching the Gospel and healing. According to report, some thousands of people have consulted him on the present trip. Ratana has a secretary whose duty it is to deal with correspondence from white people, and the necessity for such an official is obvious when it is known that thousands of letters have been received by him in the last six months, and a large proportion of them came from the Auckland district. As many as 140 letters a day are found in Ratana’s postbag, and the postage on return letters ran into a good sum ; in fact, the expense was so great that the healer had to “cut it out,” as one of his staff put the matter.

Asked whether many cures had been effected among white people, his followers say that quite a number of letters expressing thanks and telling of cures hare been received. They all quote the case of a. lady at Nelson, which was prominent in the newpsnpers a few weeks ago. and they snv she has so much recovered that she intends making a trip over to the North Island to see Ratana personally, and to thank him.

After a stay of two or three days in Auckland Ratana and part of his following will go north and visit all the Native centres as far ns Parengarenga, preaching and calling on the sick to pray and have faith.