THE TOHUNGA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2142, 26 July 1907, Page 1

THE TOHUNGA.

A SUPPRESSION BILL!

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS BEFORE THE HOUSE. “RUA” AND HIS WORK.

The Tolmnga Suppression Bill, introduced by the Native Minister, tile Hon Jas. Carroll, was called* on in the House of Representatives on Friday for its second reading. The essential provision of the Bill is contained in clause 2, which reads:

Every person who is or pro-

tends to be a tolmnga, or who gathers Maoris around him by liractising on their superstition or credulity, or who misleads or attempts to mislead any Maori b: professing or pretending to possess supernatural powers " in the treatment or cure of any disease or in the foretelling of future events or otherwise, is liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate or two Justices to a line not exceeding ten pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.

In moving tlie second reading of tho Bill (says tlie Evening Post) the Native Minister said that for years toe Maori race had been more or less victims to those who professed occult arts and those who preyed on weaker minds by offering to foretell events, and arranging witcheries and sorceries. That class of person had only been too frequent in native districts, much to the harm and detriment of the Maoris and to their undoing. They paralysed industries in which the Maori was engaged. The tohutigas were opposed to the law, and encouraged the natives to oppose the civilising influences which emanate from the Europeans. The result was that many natives had forsaken their cultivations and occupations, withdrawn their children from school, and abandoned themselves to tho whims and caprices of some tohunga. A typo of tho person lie was referring to was the notorious Ilua. He started his work in the Urewera country, and h id thus reached a larger number of people than would otherwise be possible. The dwellers in tho Urewera country—the Tulioo tribe—wore the la.tt to become reconciled to European rule. Rua had assumed control over tho -major portion of his people, and persuaded them to defy law and authority in many ways and forms. It could be understood how people not subject to the influence of generations of education could be “taken in” by tho pleading and teaching of these “prophets.” Abundant evidence could be obtained to show conclusively that the effects of the “teachings” of these toliungas had been evil and disastrous. All toliungas influenced tno same baneful effects where they practised and where they preached. Kuo. had not only exercised a bad effect on the natives in his district — he had excited the feelings of the European section of tho community. There- was always an idea that one should be careful in legislating against the liberty of the subject. In tliis particular matter the boundary live had been passed; and where it was seen that universal harm was being done the State should step in and protect those who were being injured. He submitted the Bill with confidence to the House. No race going through an evolutionary process had been free from susceptibilities of one form or another, but the Maori had not yet reached that stage where public opinion guaranteed the suppression of toliungas. Mr. Herrins favored the Bill, and said his only, complaint was that it had not been introduced long ago. The trouble would be greatly lessened if properly-qualified doctors were stationed in the thickly-populated Maori districts—-tli e tohunga’s occupation would then be gone. The only fault Mr. Heke had to find with the Bill was that it contained no provision for the pakeha tohunga. Many people forgot that there were such things ns pakeha tohungas. At the same time lie believed that tlie Bill went in the right direction, but it did not go far enough.j congra tnlated the Native Minister on having brought down a Bill that should have the support of all. He gave some striking instances of the baneful effects of th a practice of tohunga ism, and he declared that it behoved tlie House to do all that was necessary to save the lives of hundreds of tlie native Parata said lie was glad to sav that the tohunga was a quantity peculiar to the North Island. One dij come to his district in the booth, but lie promptly got him shifted. (Laughter.) Quacks and toliungas should he rigorously put down. He hoped the House would pass the 13ill - Mr. Milford said it hail been the custom in tlie past to treat tlie tohunga as a liappv child ill a world of liis own make believe. The evil li-i 1 grown to serious dimensions in practically a short space of time. Natives were being induced to part with large tracts of land by these toliungas. The Bill should he made more drastic in its provisions for t-ho suppression of the tohunga.

Mr. Ngata said there was a lack of definition about the Dill —the lack of definition of tohunga. It did not deal with political toliunga. He traced tlio doings of the tohunga hack along tho ages to show what the tohunga wns hundreds of yoars ago before the advent of the white man. What they were dealing with to-day was a bastard tohungaism. Ho admitted that the Bill did not go far enough in the matter of tho punishment provided for, but it gave too much power into the hands of constables who would initiate jiroceedings It should be remembered that iii suppressing the tohunga in many districts tho Government was taking away the only means of providing for the native sick. Ho mentioned th's to show that the needs of the natives, in tho matter of attention for the suffering, were not receiving the attention they should. He did not wish it to Jio supposed that he was supporting tohungaism, hut, legislate as tliov would, they would never suppress tohungaism -until they were able to say, “Here is the substitute.” Thu administration of tho Act would require a good deal of tact and wisdom. The reason that tohungaism flourished as it did was largely due to tho fact that the greatest curse of tin white people—consumption—was tl.i curse of the Maori, and many people, hoping against hope, were induced to seek relief at the hands of tol ungiis. Ho liad great pleasure in supporting the Bill.

Mr. Major approved the measure. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser declared that c'.io people demoralising the native raev should have been severely dealt with long before, for attention had been repeatedly drawn to the matter. After the Minister had replied, the second reading of the measure was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Native Affairs Committee.