IN THE WAKE OF RATANA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 6

IN THE WAKE OF RATANA.

FATALISM AMONG MAORIS. REFUSAL TO TAKE MEDICINE. WOMAN’S SAD DEATH. A native school teacher in the North writes to the Auckland Herald:— Much has been published about the good work Ratana is doing, but there is another phase of his work that must be considered* a potent factor for ill to be reckoned with. It may not be generally known that Ratana carries with him a book. Natives say those who sign this book pledge not to take medicine in. any fdrm or even to seek medical aid, but to trust in prayer alone. Even children’' of nine are allowed to sigu. Disastrous results are already seen. I will quote one of many cases. Recently a woman sought medical aid in the eleventh hour. Investigations revealed a horrible state of .affairs. The woman had. been ill a fortnight, during which time she had suffered agony, the pain at times being so intense as to cause unconsciousness. Iler bowels had not moved for over 12 days. She expected to be confined in three months, but neglect had caused the death of the foetus and subsequent abortion. An obstruction had formed in the bowel, which Tupturcd, .peritonitis setting in and death ensuing. Everything that medical skill could do was done, but assistance was called too late. The natives had refused to do anything for the woman, even to give her castor oil or any other similar remedy. The woman was naturally robust and could easily have recovered had she received proper attention at the beginning. Some idea of her vitality may bo gained from the fact that for eight hours previous to her death she was pulseless, failing even to react to digitalin. The natives now firmly assert that the woman died because she sought medical aid and took medicine, and that had she continued in prayer alone she would have recovered.

I am not prejudiced against Ratana and his work. On the contrary, lam a believer in the efficacy of prayer. Such results may even bo diametrically opposed to Ratana’s intentions, but, nevertheless, they show the native interpretation of Ratana’s idea. The whole thing has degenerated into fatalism ami religious fanaticism. As such, how much better is it than tohungaism? Is it not oven more insidious, inasmuch as it has pakeha recognition, an achievement tohungaism did no* even dare to hope for? Innocent lives are being sacrificed.

What if an epidemic should come? Would not native settlements be hotbeds for the dissemjnation of contagion? Why should Ratana, a native, understanding the tendency of the native mind to extremes, induce his followers to sign a book at all? Children are neglected. Ilakihaki and other

skin diseases are spreading. If a European were to neglect his offspring he would be prosecuted, and rightly, too Why should a Maori be allowed to go free? Is there not one law for both? Why cannot an example be made of one* or two? Would it not have a wholesome effect? For the sake of innocent children who are suffering and it he health of the community in general something should be done immediately to stem this baneful influence. The matter is urgent.