TOHUNGAISM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9015, 23 August 1907, Page 2

TOHUNGAISM.

* DISCUSSED IN THE COUNCIL. FORTUNE-TELLING AND HYPNOTISM. [F-koji Our Cobbesfondent.] t WELLINGTON, August 23. w i T° Counoil on Wednesday tue Attorney - General moved the second reading of the Tohunga Suppression Bill, which bad come from the second Chamber. He said that tohungas were leading many of the Native races away from their homes, and strangling industry amongst sections of the Maori people. The true remedy was not terrorism but scepticism. Every country in the world had had tnis problem to deal with. The Government did not claim any wonderful efficiency for the Bill. The success* of any measure of the kind mu6t largely depend on the condition of the minds of these people. Traditional beliefs were not imbibed in the cradle, they had been handed down for generations. However, he contended that the Bill would check the present condition of things. He referred to Rua and the extent of his mischiefmaking, and declared that if the law could do anything it was the bounden duty of Parliament to step in. It oc-. curred to a lawyer at once that there was no definition of " tohunga " in the Bill — (he&r,hear) — but those who were responsible had pointed out the difficulty of defining such a person. It was thought that the general reference in the preamble was 1 all that was required. IF a good definition were forthcoming ne would Be glad io accept it.' TEe Hon Wi Pere agreed with, the Bill, and proceeded to explain what the tohunga was. The toEunga professed to cure disease, but invariably had an ulterior object in view — that of getting a nice wife. Another species sought to get hold of the Maoris' valuables, and yet another practised witchcraft. This latter worshipped, the God of Destruction. Mr Wi Pere related what he had done to try to induce Rua's followers to go back to their homes. Tlio Bill should be passed into law. The Hon H. Scotland said tba+- the Bill would fail because it did not go far enough. It should embrace the pakeha tohunga, the " healer," the clairvoyant, the fortune-teller, and so forth. "How many educated ladies in New Zealand," he asked, "went openly to fortune-tellers?" They believed these people had a power of telling something that might take place in the future. Of all the quacks, the faith-healers were the worst. He looked upon them almost as murderers. The HoTi' J. Rigrg regretted that the Hon Wi Pere had not denned what a tohunga was. It was admitted nowadays that certain diseases, particularly nervous ailments, could be cured by hypnotic suggestion. Was it right to conclude that- this power was not possessed by a Maori? Besides, the mystic and the quack tohunga, there was the genuine tohunga, ' who possessed and exercised the power to heal. This was^ apparently the 'reason: why the Native Minister had to first authorise prosecutions under the Act. There was a great deal of ignorance on the science of metaphysics, and we eftould not too readily condemn, that which we did not thoroughly understand. He firmly believed we were on the verge of a great discovery — the discovery of a new power. It might first be fitting to set our house in order before interfering with the Maori. The Bill had apparently been 1 designed to deal with Rua, but he thought the Legislature was doing Rua too much honour. Te Whiti had exercised more power in New Zealand than Rua ever would, but it had not been found necessary to pass an Act of Parliament to deal with him. The Hon T. Kelly said that nothing but education would remove the traditions surrounding tohungaism. The Government shoulcf try to disseminate a knowledge of agriculture amongst the j Maoris. ' The Hon Dr Collins, from a medical and practical point of view, supported the .bill. With education and the help of the more enlightened members of the race, and the general effect of the Bill, he was convinced- good would result. There was no doubt there was a great deal to be said about the power of suggestion, but the curative power of hypnotism was not' quite co certain. The power of suggestion was exercised round us every day. It was said that hypnotism only cured in those cases where the effects of the disease were not visible after death. If thip were «>, there was ample opportunity for testing it in. the mental hospitals of the world. Th© lion S. T. George referred to the Cabinet as the leading pakeha tohuugas. What did the Cabinet do the other day? It sent its medicine man down to Oamaru to produce rain. There was little doubt the Natives would follow this example. The Europeans were worse than the Maoris in their belief in matters of this kind. The Hon W. W. M'Cardle regretted that Mr Rigg had made the speech, he did. It would her productive of harm amongst the Natives, and encourage them in their beliefs. What was really required was medical attendance for tho Maoris. The Hon 0. Samuel said ho was glad that the Attorney-General recognised that this, in « sense, was exceptional legislation. We liad to be very careful liow we discriminated between, one portion of the colony and another, bat being assured that the evil existed it was incumbent on the Council to pass the Bill. To get over the difficulty of defining a tohunga he suggested that the word should be omitted from the Bill. The acts specified were sufficiently comprehensive'to bring tohungas within the four corners o<f the Act. He also contended that the Bill, if passed, should bo operative for a limited time only — two or three years. The Hon G. Jones stated that if the Hon S. T. George was possessed of the requisite knowledge ho would have appreciated the benefits of the rainmaking experiments at Oamaru. Tho experiments had been eminently satisfateory, and a plentiful fall had resulted from the explosions. The Hon. G. J. Smith said he would support the second reading of the Bill, but would have something to say when the measure was in committee on the power conferred "on the Native Minister and tho Governor to make regulations. The Hon C. Louisson and the Hon H. Feldwick supported the Bill. At this stage the debate was adiourned.