Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 59, 18 June 1910, Page 4

THE TOHLWGAS. In all ages, and in every clime, the credulity of the people has put money into the pocikets of quacks. This age is no more remarkable for popular delusions than any other age. It is possible that as the world rolls on, fraud and chicanery will still flourish. Mr. Henare Kaihau, an enlightened Maori member of Parliament, lately mentioned that, closely connected with tihe evils that affected the remnant of the Maori race, were the tohungas, who traded on the ignorance of their fellows. Tn his own sphere, the Maori is not more ignorant

than the average pakeha. Mr. Kaihau said that the only place for these imposters of his own race was gaol. The atrocities practiced by the Maori tohungas are unbelievable, but while Maori tohungaism nourishes so al& does the worst kind of pakeha tohungaism. Almost any charlatan having a new religion, a new specific, a new anything, may come along and make much money*out of the public. We have had innumerable instances of this kind of fraud in New Zealand during the past few years, not the least injurious of which have been the work of palmists, psychometrists, seers, and other money-makers. There is no doubt that the Maori tohunga must be wiped out, but during the process oi elimination it is sincerely hoped that the white fakir will he made to drop out of the scheme of things as well.