MAORI GIRL INSULTED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 December 1924, Page 5

MAORI GIRL INSULTED.

V/v// ; /,/ - rV-p— •; • / INCIDENT ON SHIPBOAKD. /■■' (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. ... . % AUCKLAND, Dec. 22. iwßatana’s party returned to-day by ; the Niagara. .Referring to the cabled incident on the voyage from Japan Peter Moko said the trouble arose; from the disagreeable/conduct of an American. passenger' on a Japanese sterimer, did'a New Zealander also behaved in a surprising manner towards the party, pl had to slap the face of the Ameri- - can and the New Zealander, too,’- 5 said

Peter, “and/ as a matter of fact, what else could b liave done? They insulted i our girls and the whole party. I sim : . ' ply,went up to the American and asked him ; if it was . true that lie had said 7 so.-; When fie admitted it was true I f slapped Ms,‘face.”

Large numbers of 'Maoris are flocking, to Uatina, to be present at the home-coming of the Faith Healer and those' who/have accompanied him on the grand/ tour from which he is returning. JRatana and' his party' are now ih Auckland, arid are due at Ratana pa to-morrow morning. Yesterday’s outgoing trains from Wangarihi carried many Maori passengers' ‘‘All off to meet Ratana?’’ inquired a • Chronicle representative of a middjfe-aged man who appeared to be a person of some authority. ‘ ‘Yes, ’’ was the 'reply. “Ratana is coming homeland we are going to Ratana to wpicqme him.” In reply to further questions this seemingly well-informed, individual said Ratana and liis partyhad/' had a great trip. /‘‘We have heard of wonderful things,” he said. ‘ ‘Opt on the big seas, evep where; Europeans say it is always rough and sttjrmy, .always where Ratana’s ship goSs it is calm and smooth—the water like' glass. In England it is the same. Mind and storms all over the country, lpit wherever; Ratana goes, sunshine ' • and calm. On the ship the same won- ’ derful power. Three; people are taken .31. l /The-; ship’s .doctor attends them.: |No good. They are very , sick ; they. Ido not get .better. /Let. us have Hatana,’ they say. Ratana come to them ? and at once they are healed. These things could not be if lie did not have the power in Him.” Just then the train pulled out. . “What, aren’t you going?” asked .the newspaper man. Gone was’the tone of veneration, and iri its place the language of very liuman ; indignation. “No fear. Too crowded. Only one bloomin’ carriage for all our people. What for ? They pay like other people. Why can’t they have accommodation? It is said the railways don’t pay. Yah! Look at the empty carriage over there? Why couldn’t they have put one of them on to that train and let us travel in comfort. But no. Only one carriage for the Maoris, and some of those who go in it have to stand all the way. No' bloomin’ 1 good. I wait,” and he moved off to share, his grievance with a group of his^-fellow Ratanaites.