RATANA-ISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 779, 27 September 1929, Page 11

RATANA-ISM

Religious Fervour to Prosaic Farming ACTIVITIES DISCUSSED Ratana-ism, its merits and its disadvantages, were discussed by the Akarana Maori Association last evening. Dr. E. P. Ellison, Director of Maori Hygiene, was a speaker at the meeting. Comment on the work of Tabu Wiremu Ratana, whose extraordinary powers as a “prophet” and a faithhealer won for him a world-wide reputation about six years ago, was sympathetic. Among the arguments in favour of his work was the contention of several speakers that Ratana, by stringent rules, had brought about a diminution of drunkenness among his followers. He had also widened the social outlook of tribal branches numbered among his adherents. But Ratana’s periodical assemblies of thousands of his followers at Ratana Pa, near Wanganui, did not meet with the approval of other speakers. They considered that the home-life of families attending the assemblies from outside districts was affected. Dr. Ellison said adherents of a movement such as Ratana-ism should avoid indiscreet enthusiasm. While he did not wish to intrude on the question of religious belief, he thought a religion should embody faith in such modern advantages as skilled medical attention. NO NEGLECT OF ADViCE Ratana had not, at any time, advocated neglect by Maoris of medical advice, other members stated. They said Ratana’s people actually took full advantage of medical facilities. The effect of references by some hospital board to the “burden of attending Maoris in hospitals” was instanced. Describing the opinion of the hospital boards over the treatment of natives as “ill-considered agitation,” one speaker said a section of the Maoris, in the face of criticism, actually showed a tendency to revert to the methods of tohunga beliefs. STILL MANY FOLLOWERS

For several years Ratana has been inconspicuous, although the numbers of his followers, called Nga Morehu, signifying "the remnants of the Maori race,” are still strong. In his heyday Ratana actually effected astounding cures by faith-healing with invalids in apparently hopeless conditions.

Religious fervour ruled when hundreds of invalids, especially Europeans, crowded to the “prophet,” Cured people would throw down surgical appliances. These are retained by Ratana in what is naively called a museum.

Dozens of inquiries reached the native from European countries. Another spasm of prominence came Ratana’s way when a party of Nga Morehu visited several countries. In Japan, the Maoris were warmly welcomed.

Ratana’s life today' is obscure, hut he has his “temple,” a vast building constructed by the natives, a sizeable village, a good deal of influence, and a railway station. In his own way, Ratana gained as much colour in life as that other Maori “prophet,” Te Kooti, the rebel.

Ratana’s people have as a prosaic occupation the study of farming. This indicates that the movement is stui‘dier than It was in its enthusiastic youth.