OBSTREPEROUS MAORIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5024, 8 September 1926, Page 3

OBSTREPEROUS MAORIS.

HINDER HEALTH OFFICIALS. MISLED BY “APOSTLE” OF RAT ANA On various occasions during recent months Government officials have experienced considerable difficulty and much, inconvenience with Natives, particularly at .Thames and Hauraki Plains. Upon investigations being made it has been found that the groups of Maoris from which trouble has sprung are members of the Katana sect. On occasion Ratanaites have adopted menacing attitudes and have gone so far as to defy Government officios in the execution of their duties. A week or so ago a glaring case happened at Kopuarahi. A message came through to the head office 'for the Auckland district of the Health Department that a Maori child was sick. The illness had not been reported officially, and it was decided to send the Chief Inspector, Mr B. A? Franklin, to make investigations. He was accompanied by Nurse Jarrett, and immediately the Natives realised who the visitors were there was great excitement in the pa. By the time Inspector Franklin and Nurse Jarrett arrived a considerable body of Natives had gathered in the vicinity of the hut in which the sick child was located, gesticulating wildly. The Maoris surrounded the little party, and a t t first absolutely refused to allow the health officers to see the baby. The position was explained to them in a diplomatic manner, but still the Maoris remained adamant. One old woman in particular was most abusive and was apparently the ringleader. It transpired that she, was the mother of Rangi, “the apostle Of Ratana,” who was the “big man” of the settlement. The health officials remained firm, and at last they were permitted to see the child, much agajnst the will of the majority of the assembled Maoris, particularly the women. On entering the raupo whare a scene of confusion met the eye. The helpless baby was very ill, and was covered with the usual Maori clothing, amidst squalid surroundings. It was found that the patient wa.s. suffering from typhoid, and the. health officers decided that in order to savei its life its immediate removal to the Thames »Hospital was imperative. When this fact was announced the trouble re,ally commenced. This time “Rangi, the apostle,” took the leading pairt, and, despite all endeavours, the removal was prevented. - Word was sent to Auckland, arid Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health for -the district, issued instructions for the patient to be removed by force, if necessary. Dr. Chesson also gave orders that if the child died in the meantime no death certificate was to be issued until a coroner’s inquest had been held.

Nekt day Chief Inspector Franklin, Inspector H, H. Martindale, of Thames, Nurse Jarrett, and a policeman proceeded to the pa. Again there was a demonstration, but not so hostile a,s previously. The mother of the sick child, although she wished for it to .be properly .attended to, was in great fear of the other Ratanaites, and especially “the apostle.” After a little time, however, the patient was placed in a motor-car and made as comfortable as possible. Accompanied by the weeping Maori mother, the party made the journey back to Thames.

Later it was learned that the Natives were still in a state of excitement over the removal of the patient, and as there was a likelihood of the disease spreading, Dr. Chesson decided to proceed to the camp himself and have a korero with Rangi and his band of followers. Accompanied by two health inspectors and Nurse Jarrett, he arrived the par on the Monday afternoon, and expressed a wish to see Rangi. When the party arrived at its destination not an ablebodied Native was to be seen. Rangi was also missing, but some old men, including the agecl father of Ra ; ngi, and several women and children, clustered round. At first nobody in the- pa knew Ivhere Rangi was. The other men were working on drainage works. After much questioning it was learned that “Rangi had gone away-in a cart in the morning.” The Natives were/quiet, but by their demeanour it jVas observed that there was still a spirit of resentment manifest. When, however, it was explained to the assembled Natives that Dr. Chesson was “Te big Rangitira of Health” the mother of the sick child gave all the help she possibly could. She answered many questions put to her but was evidently in great fear. When’ Dr. Chesson entered the whare where the father of Rangi was huddled up on the ground in front an open fire, the mother went to Nurse Jarrett, and, crying bitterly, begged her to tell “te big chief” not to question her any further because it would only get her into more serious trouble with the Ratana people.

Addressing the Natives, Dr. Chesson ■made it quite plain that the Government would not stand any nonsense. It was no use them thinking that Ratana or his apostle Rangi could defy the Health Department. If there was any sickness in the camp it had to be reported at once to Nurse Jarrett. Turning to Hawera, the apostle Rangi’s aged father, Dr. Chesson said, “You tell Rangi I have been here and tell him all I have said. Y«u say to him that he is acting wrongly, and if he persists he will find himself in serious trouble. Tn other pas and Maori places, when sickness has come the Natives, always notify the nurse or inspector. This' has taken place in other camps where people are Ratanaites.” Rapgi was not acting under instructions from Ratana, he said. Ratana desired that Natives should have the benefit of the department’s nurses and health inspectors. When Ratana’s Maori committee heard of what had happened there and elsewhere, in the district Ra ; ngi would get into trouble. On inquiry at the Thames' Hospital it was learned that, although the Maori child had been so ill, it was doing well.