THE MIRACLE-WORKER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1922, Page 9

THE MIRACLE-WORKER.

ASSUMES POLITICAL ROLE. THE INFLUENCE OF RATANA. ~ ft now appears practically certain that Ra-tana, the-native miracle worker, is determined to assume a political role, and that he will play no email part in native affairs in connection with approaching election. Whether he has definitely cast his spiritual mantle aside is, however, quite another matter. Retana intimated some months ago that his special work would not be prolonged indefinitely, so it may be assumed that he is now turning hie attention to matters of a more worldly character. The four Maori seats are* to be contested by adherents of the Turakina healer (states the Auckland Star). Hl< own son will contest the Western seat with the Hon. Sir Maui Poknare. For tlie Eastern seat the candidate against the Hon. A. T. Ngata is Taranaki Te Ua, a Hawkes Bay chieftain and a prominent Ratana-ite. No candidate has yet been announced for the Northern seat, at present represented by Mr. Tau Henare, who few days ago stated that he would be a straight-out Government supporter. It is believed that Ratana’s visit to the Bay of Island district recently is not altogether dissociated with political matters, and will probably result in the announcement of a candidate in tlie course of a few days. Nothing is more certain, however, than that Mr. Henare will be opposed by a strong Ratana candidate. In the South, matters are somewhat different, as the sitting member, Mr. J. H. Uru, who this year succeeded his brother, the late Mr.* J. H. W. Uru, is believed to be a supporter, if not an actual subscriber, to the tenets of Ratanaism. The three other native representatives have definitely refused to subcribe to the faith. It ia believed the whole of the weight of the Ratana mana will be at the back of the present member for Southern Maori, and it is likely that he will hold the seat. It is interesting to note that one of his opponents will be Mrs. Morrison, a prominent Southern clneftainess.

Some months ago the adherents of Ratana compiled a record “of the faithful.” It is upon this that they are basing their political calculations. His supporters are quite sanguine that the new Native political force is going to sweep the polls. This book was handed to tribe after tribe, . thousands subscribing their signatures. It was then, however, believed to be merely a record-of religious supporters, and. as the opponents of Ratana declare, signed on that understanding. More Maoris than have recorded their votes at the usual polls signed their names to it, but it is believed that among the number were many quite eligible to vote in December. The opinion was expressed to a Star reporter by a well-known native with inside political knowledge that although the new political force should not be under estimated, he believed the movement would ultimately mean the extinction and oblivion of the faith healer.

“Ho is now turning to matters of a political nature, and must lose a great deal of support,” he added. “But whether the native people will be iswept at the coming •election by a wave of for want of a better word one will term ‘fanaticism.’ with the result that such tried, educated, and experienced representatives as Sir Maui Pomare and Mr. Ngata will lose their seats is a matter for conjecture. Personally I do not think such will be the case. Tn the interests of the native people I hope such will not be the case.”