RATANA’S COVENANT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 8

RATANA’S COVENANT.

UNIFYING MAORI RACE. Rat-ana and party paid * visit to the Far North last week, states the “New Zealand Herald.” arriving at Kaikohe on Saturday afternoon, where there was a, large gathering of Maoris to meet him. Meetings were held all day on Sunday, from which Europeans were rigidly excluded, but it was gathered that Rat ana’s mission was not so much to exercise his gift of healing as to advance his “covenant. ” movement, to unify the Maori people for moral, social and political purposes. On Monday he left for Hokianga, returning to Kaikohe next day and leaving for the south on Thursday. Katana’* influence is undoubtedly growing in the North, where he has many enthusiastic followers. Seme of the Maori clergy, however, view the “ covenant ” movement with somewhat mixed feelings, especially its tendency to develop the political side. So far the influence of Ratana’s followers in the North has been for the moral good of the Maori, and they thoroughly enjoy the more than masonic secrecy with which the movement is conducted. It is stated that R-atana hoped in the future to be able to treat Europeans personally instead of only through correspondence, as at present It may be significant of a change of attitude on Ratana’s part that among the few sick people whom he ministered to during his Kaikohe visit was a European married to a Maori woman.