RATANA.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1921, Page 4

RATANA.

ALL KG ATI ONS R EFUTEI). NELSON, A up;. 2(i After spending a few days in Motueka, Katana, the -Maori faith-healer, v returned to Wellington, via Nelson, I yesterday, en route to his home near W unganui. About 150 natives from all i parts of the district welcomed Katana. , Although no serious eases of illness | were brought- under his notice, several | minor eases wcie treated and benefit, it is stated, was received in each instance. Katana, has non concluded his tour of New Zealand. In the course of a chat, .Mr P. 1 Moko, private secretary to Katana, referred to the letter of a native school teacher in which certain charges were made in connexion with Katana’s work. A passage in the article referred to read: -‘it may not be generally known that Katana carries with him a book. The natives say .that those who sign tin's book - are pledged not to take medicine in any form, or even seek medical I aid. but trust in prayer alone. Even i children of nine are allowed to sign.” I “We admit.” said Mr Moko, ae, i have a book, but- this book is not for ( j the rejection of medical aid at all. The book is for all natives. It is a kind of oath. Those who sign absolutely give their oath that in future theywill I abolish tohungaism and superstition j and teach, their children to do likewise. I Children who understand are allowed i to sign the hook. The parents of those ! too young to understand can sign for j then! on the understanding that they j w ill be taught its meaning. Katana’s ! teaching is to believe in the one true ! (!od. 1?n Inna lias no objection to modiI cine. Katana maintains there is unbone Great Physician, and lie is God : Ahnightv, and that He can heal all manner of diseases. Katana wants to impress upon the people to have one , faith in God as their physician.” i Mr Moko further stated: Katana says ! the onlv thing for a person who gets i sick is to pray, for -he has shown them j the way through God, but if their faith is not strong enough to retain the in- ' stnidion he gives them, then they can 1 resort to medicine. Katana lias told M this to thousands of people. Tf the ; kind of criticism as contained in the •elides quoted continues, it is Katana’s ; intention to stop receiving letters from I white people.” __