AN OFFICIAL DENIAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1925, Page 4

AN OFFICIAL DENIAL

WANiGANTJI, 15th January. "Ratana has never made nor suggested political or national alliance Japan, and he repudiates the reported statements made, at Eotorua," said Mr..: Peter Moko, Batana's official executive officer, when interviewed by a "Cronicle" representative by telephone to-night. "We visited Japan to disseminate the Gospel,'' continued Mr. Moko. "On onr arrival there the Japanese people were so hospitable that we understood from, their kindness that they were related. As a matter of ■ fact we found afterwards, through' inquiries that the Japanese people and our people were related. We have sent no emissary to Kotbrua, and the only one person that could be" so' regarded was a man who came from the sub-tribe to Batana on the occasion of the'recent gathering. On' that occasion Batana made the position clear and said that there was a blood relationship with Japan." Proceeding Mr Moko said that the visitor from Rotorua may have met the Arawas with a view of getting signatures ,to the covenant, and in this connection explained that while Ratana's party was away .Ratana mislaid some, of the schedules of .names and bo intended to get them over^ again Refen-ing to tie visit to London, Mr. Moko said their, intention was to waitupon Mr. Ramsay MacßonaJd about the Treaty of Waitangi, but they were informed that it was not possible.at the time. . It was Bugeested law Iff T^" 16?* be^ade later, but, it was not. He (Mr Moko^ took the platform, and addressed seVera meetings on the Treaty of Waiting Mr Bioko-stated that^he personX would make a, further explanation when •Whad more, mformatioS on SeTub