RATANA AND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18211, 3 October 1922, Page 8

RATANA AND POLITICS.

NO ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.

STATEMENT BY REPRESENTATIVE.

[BX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON. Monday. The suggestion that Ratana, the Maori faith healer, is actively concerning himself in the native election campaign, ia denied by a member oi Ratana's staff who is at present in Wellington. Ho said to-day* that tho recent newspaper statements' that Ratana had. nominated certain candidates were absolutely without foundation, and on behalf of Ratana he wished to give them a strong denial. He had been present in April last at a meeting of 3000 natives, at which Ratana was asked to accept nomination or himself nominate candidates for the various seats. In reply, Ratana declined to stand or to make any nomination. The Maoris, She E.ai'l, were to elect their own representative, and he wished to disassociate himself from any participation m the campaign and devote himself to the work he had in hand. "Ratana," said his representative, "is being blamed for advocating a change in tho present representation which is desired by the natives. The Maoris are just as desirous of a change and have just as muoh right in moving for it as the pakehas and maintain that it is just as necessary as a change in diet. Ratana is quite right in taking up an independent attitude. I have attended all his meetings, and believe in the work ho is doing in keeping down tohungaism, whk;h has been the curse of the race in the past and also in combating that other form of tohungaism, the waipiro. "It has been remarked thai Christianity and politics should not go together, I say that had it not been for Christianity there would be no Parliament this day. We should still be uncivilised, running about with a mat over our shoulders and a tomahawk, patiti, or mere poutiemu in our hardg. I nay, 'give Ratana a fair deal.' "