RATANA MOVEMENT IS NOT LOSING GROUND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 13

RATANA MOVEMENT IS NOT LOSING GROUND

VILLAGE ORDERLY RELIGION OR FOOTBALL? Happenings in the Ratana native settlement near Wanganui since its inception have been followed throughout New Zealand with extraordinary interest. Tahu Wiremu Ratana, leader of the new movement among the Maoris, has come in for his share of publicity and criticism, but, despite statements issued from time to time th the movement was losing ground, the settlement continues to flourish. It was not many months ago that reports went out of the pending departure from the township of several of the head men, but these were swiftly denied by those in authority and the adherents to the beliefs of the movement are still a strong force among the Maoris. Not only from the Wanganui district have the followers of Ratana been drajvn, but there are many representatives of major New Zealand tribes, including several in the Auckland province. REPORTS DENIED Visited by a Sun man on Saturday, the village bore a distinctly prosperous appearance, and the regard for the rules of European community life was evident. Some months previously reports had been made of the alleged filth in the community, and many distressed Ratana residents were loud in their protests, which were upheld by responsible white ministers associated with the affairs of the settlement. Had the statements any foundation they were probably exaggerated, and there was certainly nothing arpiss as regards cleanliness when The Sun man made his visit. Ratana residents probably are more interested in Rugby than religion just at present, and have two teams in competitions in Wanganui whose erratic tactics have perplexed representatives from the latter centre to some degree. Whether football has been responsible for keeping the interest of the natives in their village or the claims of the movement are still largely in evidence is hard to tell, but outwardly at least Ratana township is a typically contented Maori settlement. Perhaps there is some streak of tenacity of purpose in Maori temperament which has enabled the movement to survive years of criticism from. all parts of New Zealand on every phase of life at Ratana. At all events, there has been no critical wane of interest in the ranks of the followers, who must bo acknowledged to be orderly representatives c>ftheir race.