BLOCKING THE MAORI PROGRESS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43070, 19 March 1907, Page 4

BLOCKING THE MAORI PROGRESS.

; Tile extraordiiiai-y nart played by V Te Whiti and Tohu, the Parihaka. ‘oro- : phets,’ in the lives of the Taranaki , and outside natives .'during the past 1 '• 30,years has no parallel .in the whole ; of the history of the Maori race. ■ T’.:e.e men, according to the Taranaki ■ V -IVB, have stood between the Maoris •j ( ‘and progress; the- .have, preserved Vto ' £ gfleat extent superstition and mystification amongst their followers, |; : ;an.d blocked the growth of civilisation and ; its effects; they have exerted sudh. potent influence over their followers, as to have demanded and gained'tribute •'which collectively is now •;i ’supposed to run into over £-50,000. thereby keeping the natives in a, state £ of ; comparative impoverishment; and generally have commanded an i n flupence over the Maori race greater than p the influence exerted by the Government. any section of individuals, Maori or pakeha combined. . Tohu:, it •: will be remembered, died recently. The followers of the late chief are now

holding a meeting, the objects of which are to consider the question as to whether a successor to Tohu should be npoointed, or, instead, to renounce altogether the Parihaka faithi, and- to decide upon the manner of the' disposal of the hoard of gold left by Tohu. Besides the Tohautes, there is quite a number of representative Te Whiti-ites present.