MAORI QUACKS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13480, 20 July 1907, Page 5

MAORI QUACKS.

TOHUNGA SUPPRESSION BILL.

' *PMfcfcrA*MENT SUPPORTS THE

MEASURE.

(Per Press Association.)

.' \ WELLINGTON, July 19. "In- introducing the second. reading of the Tghunga Suppression Bill in tho House of , Representatives to-day, the Native Minister, Hon. J. Carroll, said tohungas were opposed to civilising influence. They adopted a hostile attitude towards laws making for the public interests, and also by advice given to their followers invited them to resist laws brought in for the advancement of civilisation. The, result of tohungas' influences had been that many Maoris had forsaken their cultrvations and had withdrawn their children from schools, and abandoned themsolves to the whims and caprices of some tohungas prominent in their locality. The' Minister referred to Rua, who had made himself more notorious than his fellow-profes-sors. The Maoris were easily taken in, and abundant evidence'could be obtained to show conclusively that the effects of the teachings of tohungas had been evil and disastrous. There was always an idea that they should be careful iil legislating 'against the liberty of the subject, but in this particular matter the boundary line had been passed, and steps should be taken by the State to protect those who were being injured. He submitted the Bill with confidence. Mr Herries, in supporting the Bill, said it should have been "introduced long ago. He urged that more legally qualified doctors should be stationed in Native districts. This would soon put an end to the malpractices of tohungas, whose occupation would be gone. Mr Heke found fault with the Bill because it did not go far enough, and contained no provision for dealing with .the pakeha tohuoga. - ' \ Mr Stevens strongly supported the Bill, and urged; that members should do all in their power to suppress the baneful influence, and save the hundreds of lives endangered by tobunga practices. Mr Parata said tohungas did not flourish in the South Island. One did make his appearance in his (Mr Parata's) electorate, but he made it his business tottell Mm to clear out, and he went back to the North Island. He strongly favoured the Bill. - Mr Wilford considered the matter of dealing with tohungas a very serious one. What the colony had done during the course of many years had in many instances been undone in a very short time by tohungas, who were the cause of much of the disruption that had taken j>l ace. He. advocated dealing with tohungaism under the Habitual Offenders Act, 1906. Mr Ngata said' there was no definition ;of tohunga in the Bill. He traced the history of the tohunga, and declared that they were to-day dealing with a bastard tohungaism. He believed tohungas of old were acquainted with the -healing properties of many- of the plants of New Zealand, and maintained there was a good field in the flora of New Zealand for medical experiments. He argued that there were not sufficient niedioal -men in the Maori districts, and though, theoretically, the sanatorium and hospital were open to the Maori, it was most difficult to get the Natives into these institutions. He stated that they could not cope successfully with tohungaism unless they gave the Maoris a substitute in the form of more legally qualified practitioners. Consumption was the curse of the Maori, and many Natives, hoping against hope, were induced to seek relief from tohungas. He had great pleasure in supporting the Bill.

Mr A. L. D. Fraser congratulated the Native Minister on the Bill, but thought it had been brought down too late, as these people, who had been demoralising the Natives, should have been dealt with long ago. He thought the Bill not severe nor drastic enough. Mr Major also supported the motion. The Hon. .Mr Carroll roplied. The second reading' was" agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee for their report.