The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21. MAORI NURSES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8053, 21 February 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21. MAORI NURSES.

The decision of the Tarauaki Hospital Board to favorably consider the Government proposal to train young Maori girls in the duties of muMng is one thnt will be cordi-illy approved by all who desire to see the natives of this piovinee aroused from the slough of despond and ignorance in which they are at present enthralled through the pernicious infiuence of the great tohunga, Te Whiti. Although within recent years the power of the tohunga in 'i'arunaki has not been brought no prominently under the glare of public limelight as some of the meteoric Hashes of new-Hedged tohungas in the North, it in neverthelss unfortunately only too true that iu no district in the colony is the Maori so much under the baneful influence us lie is in Turanaki, Te Whiti to-day has more influence and a greater following throughout New Zealand than any tohunga in modern times.

Even Ti T'angata Tiki (the nun Dick Seddon) whose manu with the natives is greater than any pakelia of modern times, is but a small rangitira in the native estimation in comparison with Te Whiti. No one is more convinced of this than the Premier himself, who no doubt has not forgotten his cool reception when he went uninvited into the domains of the prophet of Parihaka some ten years ago. When one considers the means used by Te Whiti to maintain his influence, it is not to ba wondered at, that all the efforts of missionaries to win the natives' confidence have proved abortive in this province. If our memory is not defectivo, we have read that it was some fifty or more years ago that To W liiti was known to old settlers in his humble capacity of a bullock driver. Evon then lie was a man of commanding influence, and having learned a smattering of the Christian religion he became a missionary under the Wesleyan Church. The man's perspicacity was not long in showing him that the teachings of the Old Testament were peculiarly that form of worship that appeals to the minds of the semi-barbarian races, in so far that it is pre eminently ceremonial.

Te Wiiiti recognised that the influence of a prophet who based his teaching* on the Old Scriptures, at same timo introducing sufficient of the New Testament to show the natives that his teachings were on the same lines as the pakelia missionaries, would appeal to his rscn, and maka him a power amongst them. How well Te Whiti has succeeded in putting bis early aspirations into effect is evident to anyone who t ikes the merest interest in the condition of the mass of the Tarauaki M (oris. I This is merely pointed out to show , the means used whereby Te Whiti' maintains his all-powerful influence, I enabling him to succeed iu lii.s one 1 idea of keeping the remnant of his race as distinctly Maori as possible, | and excluding anything iu ths w.i j of! European reforms.

The Boxer movement of China would be no more striking an instance of antagonism to modern ideas and institutions than the disciples of Te Whiti were it not for the great disparity in numerical strength. The Tarauaki Maori, no matter what may be said to the contrary, is still a savage, and in the minds, especially of the older generation, there still rankles a hatred of the white man that only death on dispel, So Ion" as Te Whiti can keep that spirit even donnantly in existence, and effectively exclude from Parihaka and its environs Europe/m influence—which would lessen his manu—not much good can be hoped for.

Whims therefore it is an admirable sentiment that prompts the Government and our public institutions to improve the Maori's pliysic.al wellbeing by training nurses, it is useless to hope that their assistance will be tolerated by To AVhiti and his minor tohungas, Time, however, will overcome the difficulties now in the way, and the day will come it is hoped speedily—when the baneful toluiiiga influence having been removed, the future native generations may have their young days brightened by care and attention, the absence of which at present is building up, in place of I the stalwart giants of the past, an effeminate and stunted race. This is but one of many of the Maori problems with which well-wishers of the race are confronted, and which we intend to pointedly deal with from time to time.