BURIAL SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 10

BURIAL SERVICES

MAORI DISPUTE

RATANA .AND HIS FOLLOWERS

(By Telegraph.) 4 (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

During the sitting of the Native Land Court at Ahipara, at which Judge Acheson presided, a dispute was heard between Batana and his followers and the Anglican Maoris of'Pukepoto. Herepeti' Bapihana made application to have the trusteeship of the Native church and the burial grounds at. Pukepoto vested in the General True 1: Board of England, and dissension had arisen through the followers of Batana desiring to conduct the burial services according to their creed. The Anglican Church had a special burial service for Non-Conformists, and the Anglican Maoris had no objection to Batana's followers using that burial ground, provided this service was used and Church 'of England clergymen officiated: The Batana section objected, and feeling was very strong between the two factions. •■ ■ „ Henare Puhipi said the service provided for Non-Conformists was only fit for. animals, for beasts. The Judge said that he knew the burial service in question. There was nothing dishonourable in it. He was a Presbyterian, but would not mind if he were buried with that service. He quite sympathised with the desire of the Batana followers to" bury their dead in their own way, but felt that it was a pity that a sect which had so many adherents should try to intrude on Anglican ground. He hoped that the Eatana followers would see their way to get a burial ground of their own. At the next sitting of the Court trustees would be appointed, who would transfer the interest in the ground to the General Trust Board of the Church of England. :' ■ .