ORDERED BACK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 612, 17 August 1933, Page 5

ORDERED BACK

(Press Assn.-

police barricade ratana's followers defy prohibition of assemblies ' OUT FOR PLEASURE

-By Telegraph — Copyright.

Whangarei, Wednesday. In defianee of the Health- Department's embargo upon assemblies of Maoris as a precaution against the spread of sleeping sickness in the Far North, Ratana's riumerous followers left Kaikohe this afternoon in motor vehicles with the Nine'ty Mile Beach as their objective and iiivo'lving various gatherings en route. Arriving at the bridge between Kaihoke and Ohaeawai, however, they found further progress harred by a barricade of lorries which had been ordered 'to be placed across the road. Thus outwitted in their purpose, the natives offered to cancel their northward congregations if they were allowed to proceed but the authorities were adamant. The party then capitulated and its members agreed to return to their- settlements. • • "We are going about lilce rogues, thieves and vagabonds", said Ratana's spokesmen. "When we heard of the outbreak, we agreed to abandon all huis. We are not out to break the law but only desire peace and a little bit of pleasure which so far has heen denied us." With cries of "Come on, the Kelly gang," the Ratanaites ordered their sundry vehicles and turned about. The last seen of them was a cloud of dust as they dashed back along the Mangamuka road.