RATANA WELCOMED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 5

RATANA WELCOMED

A GREAT GATHERING M A.ORI LEADER MEETS WITH ENTHUSIASTIC KECEmUxN. INTERESTING WOR LD-TOUR. “TRUE CO-OPERATION.” A “Ne>.v Zealand Times” reporter \vi?(9 informed by one who professed to speak with some degree of authority that Ratana and his party on arriving at Ratana mot with a most enthusiastic reception. There was an immonsa gathering of Natives (he said), and tho feasting and general festivities were of a most lavish character. An immense amount of provender had been conveyed to the pa, and this wcia being done full justice to by tile assembled tribes. “It beats me where the money comes from,” ho added. “The trip Home muse have cost many thousands of pounds, for the party was no small one. Yet I believe every account was promptly and fully paid, and in that and other respects the Maoris have left behind a splendid impression. “At Ratana the roasting will run into thousands of pounds, and yet they all seem to have plenty. The trip abroad vras n eye-opener to many. There* was scarcely any bickering, the best of rcla-ions existing amongst the members of the party, and they gave a practical illustration of what can be done by true co-operation. In this respect, somehow, I think they can give points to some of their pakeha mothers.” TRAVELSJJF RATANA IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR. VISIT OF MANY LANDS. Pika T. Moko, Ratana’s publicity secretary, discussing the recent trip, mentioned that the deepest impression made on, the party and its leader was in respect of the social conditions in the Old Country. These, he said, were bad. The only exception in the Old World was in Germany, where industry was .’n full swing and the whole nation employed in busy industry. Everywhere the 'party had an excellent reception, but probably best of all in Japan. This is doubtless emphasised by the fact that a Japanese youth— Kite Hireshi—was adopted by the party and returned with it to New Zealand. While abroad Ratana made no public demonstration of his powers of healing, but he attended to 5000 correspondence cases of which 3500 claimed to have experienced a cure. The cost of the trip was estimated at no less a sum than £IO,OOO. The concert party gave many concerts in Great Britain and elsewhere, mostly in aid of hospitals.

The party vtisitddl Edinburgh and Glasgow and crossed over to Belfast, but was unable to visit Dublin. Their continental tour included Germany and Switzerland, after which the journey turned toward Egypt with a visit to Cairo, and thence to Japan. The party as a whole enjoyed their association with the Japanese best of all, and spoke enthusiastically of the similarity of language and traditions, these, as it seemed, representing an ancient blood bond of Polynesian brotherhood. Most of the party acquired curios in their wanderings to remind them of a wonderful trip in lands lar away from Maoriland. While tho party were in Hongkong. Cupid was busy, end the daughter of Ratana was married to another Maori. A Japanese Christian bishop tied the nuptial knot and the bride and bridegroom wore conventional Japanese kimono during tho ceremony.