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TE TOA TAKITINI
Number 72
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper
Hastings
August, 1927
THE MOTHER’S UNION PRAYER
Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ and fill our hearts with love for him. Help us to be faithful wives to our husbands and loving mothers to our children. Teach us how to raise our children for heaven. Send your Holy Spirit on our husbands and children. Make our homes places where peace and love abide. Teach us to so rightly work in this world that we may in the end dwell with you in your heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A CHAPEL FOR HUKARERE.
The Latest Contribution.
From the women of Nuhaka £22 0 5
Total amount received £788 17 11
The money contributed by the Misses Bulstrode was £50 each, a total of £100. The figure of £58 in the July paper was wrong.
THE WAIAPU SYNOD
The Synod of the Diocese of Waiapu will meet in Napier on the last day of September.
Published by the Rev F A Bennett and printed at the Herald Office, Tennyson Street, Napier, HB.
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Te Toa Takitini
Registered at the GPO as Newspaper
The price of the Paper is 10/- a year.
Address letters to Te Toa Takitini, Box 300, Hastings.
Te Toa Takitini, August, 1927.
SIR APIRANA TURUPA NGATA
The Ngati Porou Celebration
Despite the terrible weather and the flooding at Waiapu many people gathered at Wai-o-Matatini on 12th June to congratulate Apirana Ngata on the honour conferred on him by the King. Pene Heihi was the first speaker to welcome the arriving groups. He mentioned the names of Mokena Kohere and Rapata Wahawaha as men who had been loyal to the English throne and the honour heaped on Apirana continues that tradition of the faithfulness of Ngati Porou. After Pene Heihi came Apirana. He welcomed Ngati Porou and he explained that he was offered the title ‘Sir’ shortly after the war but he did not accept it thinking that such an honour was due to the soldiers and not to those who stayed at home. When the Duke came to Rotorua the proposition was again made to him but he declined. On the urging of the Governor he accepted this great treasure, but as the Maori tongue has difficulty with strange new names let us leave it to the Pakeha to pronounce it.
Renata Tamepo was the first of the visitors to stand. He said that, although Pakeha honours were not part of the chiefly tradition this is a New World, and it is right to congratulate the new Sir and Lady.
Reweti Kohere agreed with what Renata Tamepo had said about Maori chiefs in the past not possessing titles like those of the Pakeha, and Te Kani-a-Takirau despised the title of ‘king,’ and English titles could be purchased with money, he was in two minds about Pakeha titles, however, conferring an honour on Apirana was right though there was one thing wrong - it was overdue. Apirana has been a member of Parliament for 22 years and has always worked for the welfare of Maori, as well as being one of the leading people in Parliament. Apirana is a humble man and he will not change; even were he King he would still be the same.
As for Pene Heihi’s words ab0ut loyalty, Reweti Kohere said that he grieved for the Maori People. He perceived that the destiny of most Maori was to be ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ for the Pakeha – that is, slaves. In these days, in his heart he was questioning whether his ancestors were right to take the Pakeha side when they fought against the Maori. But Ngati Porou were fortunate that Mokena Kohere and Rapata Wahawaha were loyal because Ngati Porou lands were not confiscated.
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The Commission of Enquiry into Confiscated Lands was set up but achieved nothing.
Reweti Kohere also congratulated Arihia Ngata as the person who supported Apirana in his important work, and it was appropriate that she be be given the title, ‘Lady.’
Some Pakeha newspapers make a habit of grumbling when some people have the title ‘Sir’ conferred on them, but all the newspapers were of one voice in praising in this case, as if the title was itself being honoured by the bearer.
Eruera Moeke thanked Apirana for his great works. Apirana’s first achievement was to withdraw the Ngat Porou lands from the hands of the companies. All the chiefs were soiled by giving the lands to the company. Apirana fought against this and the Ngati Porou lands survived. At the end of his speech, Eruera presented a gift of money to Arihia – gift from the tribe to mark the day on which she became a ‘Lady.’ Other speakers were Hatara te Awarau, Neho Kopuka, Panikena Kaa, and Mr Cooke, a Pakeha,
Apirana received a great many telegrammes and letters from within New Zealand and beyond congratulating him on the honour conferred on him. Those wires and letters spoke very highly of Apirana and the Maori People.
Best wishes to the new ‘Sir’ and the new ‘Lady.’
Pukemaire.
WIREMU EREATARA RANGIHORO
Among the many losses suffered by Te Arawa this year is that of one of the chiefs, a distinguished man and an orator at Te Arawa’s great gatherings, Wiremu Ereatara, who lies in the long sleep of his ancestors. This man was highly thought of by his many hapu within Te Arawa. He was a very able man when it came to making plans. He was also the deputy chairman of the Trust Board of the Te Arawa District. He was committed to the teachings of the faith and he was a supporter of the activities of the Church right up to his death. When he was a child he was well taught by the elders the ancient stories and the genealogies of the Maori. We have lost this fugleman of the Te Arawa canoe.
Farewell, Sir! You have left behind your canoe; who is going tolead the chants through the storms after you? Go to your people, Go to your home. Go to your Lord.
REV HONE TERI PAERATA
On 28th July, Rev Teri Paerata, fell asleep. He died at Foxton. He was 68. He was an elder and a chiefwithin his hapu in Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Raukawa.
He was taught at Te Raukahikatea College in Gisborne. In 1894 he was made a Deacon and in 1901 he was ordained Priest. He has been a minister for 33 years.
He began his work as a minister in Otaki in 1894. Afterwards he was moved to the Wairarapa and then to Foxton.
Teri was a gentle elder with a deep knowledge of the practices and the ways of Maori. He was always faithful to the ways of the Church and he could close his eyes without reproach.
Farewell, servant of the Lord. Go to your rest. Go to your Lord. We, your fellow servants, grieve at the loss of your physical presence, but we rejoice that your soul has gone straight to heaven and to the blessings it holds for those who cling to Jesus.
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SECOND MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
Archdeaconry of Tauranga.
The meeting began at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 13th July.
The Members and the Ministers who Attended.
Name Area
Wiremu Kingi, Rev Mohi Eruini Ohinemutu
Tiakiawa Tahuriorangi, Raimona Heretaunga, Whakarewarewa and
Rev Te Manihera Tumatahi Mourea
Hemi te Uara, Rv Rewi Wikiriwhi Te Puke
Paora Rangiaaho, Rev Te Ropere-Tahuriorangi Ruatoki
Kereopa Hokire, Rev Te Waaka Whakatane
Rev Paora Te Mueru Taupo
Paora Rokino was unable to attend because of his wife’s illness.
Archdeacon Chatterton chaired the meeting.
The meeting began with prayer
The Chairman asked about the matters that had been set down for the committee to deal with.
Wiremu Kingi replied that all the things asked of the committee had been done except for matters that had arisen during the meeting.
The Secretary read the minutes of the first meeting.
The Agenda (Agreed}
The Committee is to deal with the following matters.
1. The remaining debts owed by parishes.
2. Ways to settle these debts.
3. The £70 for the spread of the Gospel.
4. The ten acres for the house of the Supervisor.
5. The finances and the running of Church properties.
(a) [Wharekaatu - ?garage] at Maketu.
(b) Church house at Tauranga. (Tauranga)
(c) Opouriao. (Ruatoki)
6. Te Ngae and the rent money to support the minister.
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7. Reports on the work of the parishes.
8. Conduct of missions by the Rev F A Bennett.
Wiremu Kingi: I propose that the parish debts be the first matter on the agenda.
Agreed.
Tiakiawa: How was the £42 to be divided between the villages of Te Whakarewarewa, Owhata, Te Ngae and Mourea?
The Chairman said that this is for the people of those villages to decide.
The Parish Debts
Wiremu Kingi explained this matter at length because of the concern felt by the majority that the matter of the debts was thought by some to have been allowed to become a cause of division between the Church and other Churches. It had become a problem for some parts of the Church in that few people were getting involved in the work of the Church. Therefore we were asked to ask Synod to explain the debts – except for that of Ohinemutu which is clear – and to see if some of the debts could be wiped out.
Chairman: We are aware of this difficulty faced by some parishes like Whakatane, Ruatoki, Te Puke and Mourea. Because of this situation the Standing Committee in Napier has continued to pay the stipends of the clergy, and presently the amount in the bank taken for this purpose will reach £2000.
As for the request that these debts be cancelled by the Synod, my view is that we must first make every effort to pay our debts so that it is seen that we are trying hard to do something about the situation.
Many spoke on this subject.
I. The Parish Debts.
Moved by Wiremu Kingi; seconded by Te Waaka: ‘That we bring the debts to the attention of the Synod at Napier to be queried and explained. And that this Archdeaconry makes every effort to settle these debts even though they are a heavy burden for the Maori Church in this area.’ Agreed.
II. Ways to settle the debts.
The Chairman explained the use of Duplex Envelopes at length. Many supported this way of doing things in the parishes.
Arranging Duplex Envelopes for Parishes of the Tauranga Archdeaconry.
Heemi te Uara moved; seconded by Te Waaka: ‘This meeting of the Standing Committee of Tauranga Archdeaconry agrees to initiate the collecting of money by Duplex Envelopes in the parishes of this Archdeaconry.’ Agreed.
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Arrangements for introducing those envelopes.
Moved by Te Ropere; second by Paora Rangiaaho: ‘That we first introduce those envelopes in the parishes of Rotorua.’ Agreed.
III. The Work of the Parishes.
Mohi moved and Te Manihera seconded: ‘That each minister reports on the work in his parish to the Standing Committee when it meets, and the kinds of things to be reported on are to be determined by the Chairman when he mets with each minister before the meeting.’ Agreed.
IV The Ten Acres.
Chairman: This Committee has no authority to deal with the Ten Acres; that lies only with the main CVommittee in Napier.
V Mission to Tauranga and other places.
Wiremu Kingi moved and Rewi seconded: ‘That the Rev F A Bennett conduct a Mission to stir up interest in the Gospel in the Tauranga area.’ Agreed.
VI The £70 Contribution for the Spread of the Gospel.
Mohi moved and Paora Rangiaah0 seconded: ‘The money from each parish for the spread of the Gospel is to be sent to the Chairman of the Standing Committee, and let us arrange for the collection of this money for the coming year.’ Agreed.
Concerning the Parish of Rotorua.
Wiremu Kingi: Because of the heavy demands of running this parish and the large number of Church people, the Church Committee of Ohinemutu has proposed dividing the parish in two.
1. Ohinemutu - Waitete, Te Awahou and Mamaku.
2. Whakarewarewa - To Mourea.
The rent money from Te Ngae should go to the second part. It is thought that this will strengthen the work there.
Chairman: This is a good proposal if the people of Ohinemutu agree, but it is for the Synod to approve of it.
Wiremu Kingi: The proposal has been approved of, but a small proportion, £10, should be allocated to Ohinemutu.
VII The Parish of Rotorua to be divided in two.
Raimona moved and Tiakiawa seconded: ‘This meeting of the Standing Committee approves of the division of the Parish of Rotorua.
1. Ohinemutu to Te Mamaku.
2. Whakarewarewa to Mourea,
The rent money from Te Ngae to be given to parish No, 2.’ Passed.
VIII The Name of Parish No 2.
Tiakiawa moved and Raimona seconded:
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‘That the name of the new parish be Te Ngae because (1) the money from Te Ngae will sustain the parish, and (2) it is in the centre of the parish.’ Agreed.
IX Part of the Te Ngae money to go to Ohinemutu.
Tiakiawa moved and Raimona seconded: ‘That £23 of the Te Ngae money should go to Ohinemutu.’ Agreed.
X A member from Te Puke on the Standing Committee.
Rewi moved and Te Ua seconded: ‘That this meeting of the committee wishes to have a member from the Rangiuru area, that is, Te Puke, on the Standing Committee.’ Agreed.
Chairman: The appointment of this member is a matter for the Main Committee in Napier to approve.
Services at Murupara.
In response to a question from the Chairman about services in Murupara, Te Manihera explained that in months in which there were five Sundays he visited Murupara on the last Sunday, and in such months he would visit Te Rotoiti (Alternately).
XI The Church Lands.
Te Uara moved and Paora Rangiaaho seconded: ‘That the lay representatives and the clergy attending the Synod in Napier ask questions about the proceeds from and the management of the Church lands.
Wharekaahu at Maketu
Tauranga (the village, etc.) at Tauranga.
Pouriao at Ruatoki.’
Agreed.
XII Thanks to the local people. ‘The members and the Chairman are very grateful to the local people for their care for the members of the committee, and hope that they will be greatly blessed.’
XIII Thanks to the Chairman.
Wiremu Kingi moved and Te Waaka seconded: ‘This gathering of the members of the Standing Committee expresses its gratification at the good recovery of the Chairman from his illness and for his determination in attending this meeting.’
Agreed.
The Chairman expressed his thanks for the greeting and for the excellent conduct of the business of the Standing Committee.
The meeting closed with prayer.
Raimona Heretaunga
Secretary
STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE HAWKES BAY ARCHDEACONRY
The second meeting of this branch of the Standing Committees of the Church was held at the Diocesan Office in Napier at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 20th July, 1927.
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The members who attended this meeting:
Clergy
Archdeacon Brocklehurst, Chairman.
Rev Wipere Mataira of Nuhaka.
Rev Pene Hakiwai of Moteo.
Rev Wharetini Rangi of Waipawa.
Rev P Peneti, Supervisor of Te Waipatu.
Laity
Matene Whaanga of Nuhaka.
Pita Tiopira of Moteo.
Henare Hutana of Waipawa.
Paraire Tomoana of Te Waipatu.
Rewi Tamihana of Te Wairoa.
The Chairman opened the meeting with prayer.
The Secretary read the minutes of the first meeting of the Committee. Passed.
These were the matters dealt with.
1. The Spreading of the Gospel.
The Treasurer said that the money collected by the Maori Parishes of this Archdeaconry for taking the Gospel to the parts of the world in darkness was
£21/17/1.
£ s d
Porangahau 14 10 0
Waipawa 4 10 1
Waipatu 1 6 0
Nuhaka 1 11 0
21 17 1
It was pointed out that it was difficult this year to find money for the parishes’ own business and it had not been possible to raise the proposed amounts. Only the Parish of Waipawa (including Porangahau) had addressed the matter.
2. Duplex Envelope System.
The Chairman said that the Duplex Envelopes and explanatory material had arrived. There were many questions to the Chairman about the administration of these, which received clear answers. The cost of the envelopes and the boxes is £5 for 100.
It was agreed to introduce the system in the Parishes of Waipawa, Moteo, Te Waipatu and Nuhaka.
It was explained that a good aspect of this way of collecting is that a person learns to put aside something for the work of God each week whether there is or is not a service. Secondly, it is easy to divide the contribution if a person wishes with part going into the envelope for the parish and part into that for the sharing of the Gospel. It is for the person to decide how little or how much goes to each.
Bennett moved and W Rangi seconded: ‘That we begin using the Duplex Envelopes in our Maori parishes and the following will be secretaries to administer the scheme:
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Parish of Waipawa – H Hutana.
Parish of Moteo – Pita Tiopira.
Parish of Te Waipatu – P H Tomoana.
Parish of Nuhaka – Peta Nepia.’ Agreed.
It was arranged that each parish receive 50 boxes of envelopes.
3.
Minister’s House for the Parish of Waipawa.
(a)
H Hutana has set up a bank account for the money and the amount now stands at
£435.
The Chairman congratulated the people of this parish on their efforts in this matter.
(b) As for the request for assistance with this project from the Diocesan Office, the Chairman explained that the Office had no money available at this time but when it does have funds available it will consider this matter. When the Bishop returns he will be asked to help you. It was left to Bennett and the Chairman to bring the matter before the Diocesan Standing Committee.
(c) As for the site of the house, H Hutana moved and Paraire Tomoana seconded: ‘It has been decided that Porangahau is where the minister’s house will be erected.’ Passed.
The following reasons were given: There are more Maori in Porangahau than in other parts of the Parish of Waipawa. As Maori still own the land in Porangahau most of them will continue to live there. The site for the house has been given by Mrs Hutana, it has been set apart by the court and is in the township of Porangahau. Therefore, it will not be difficult to sell that place if in years to come Porangahau proves to be unsuitable as a place for the minister to live.
(d) The Church Offerings. The Chairman pointed out that money received in church services is for the minister’s stipend. This is an ancient law of the Church and it is the same for Pakeha parishes and Maori parishes. The Diocesan Office wants the motion passed by one of the Maori Synods to be implemented, that all the money given be sent to the Office in Napier each month. It was explained that the money sent by each parish is in a separate account, and all the money sent in is used for the parish that sent it and not for any other part.
4. Parish Debts.
The accounts of each parish are taking a long time to process and it has been found that this year has been difficult.
H Hutana pointed out that, at the hui held at Waipawa, the people were asked to use the money lying there to repair the church. Following explanations this motion was passed: ‘This hui confirms that the money donated at the Waipawa Hui, before 31st March this year, is to be used for repairs to the
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churches at Waipawa, Takapau and Porangahau. This hui agrees that all offerings this year, from 1st April, are to be sent each month to the Diocesan Office.’
It was arranged that Bennett explain this and other matters relating to the Church to the people of Porangahau when he visits them.
5. The Times of Services.
From this meeting a list of the services held in each parish, including Communion services, held in each place will be sent to the Office.
6. Treasurers.
Bennett explained that the motion was not dealt with at that hui after Hori Tupae explained it and asked that it not be proceeded with lest it cause distress and division amongst us. The person is acting kindly, so let us also be kind.
7. New Hymns.
Bennett said that some new hymns have been collected together and some have been translated into Maori. This committee asks Church people, whether clergy or laity, to send to them new hymns or translations. Send them to The Editor, Te Toa Takitini, Box 300, Hastings.
8. The Hymn and the Music.
A report has not yet been received. Bennett was askd to write to the Bishop asking him to enquire of the printers the cost of printing the music.
9. An Order of Service for Joining the Church.
Archdeacon Herbert Williams’ report has not yet arrived.
10. Thanks.
The Secretary presented the letters he had sent together with the payments to the Bishop, Archdeacon Chatterton, and Mrs Pilson.
11. The Bishop’s Letters.
The Secretary translated into Maori the two letters received from the Bishop in England, in which he sent his greetings to the Maori People of his Diocese, thanked the Committee members for their greetings to him and his wife, and said that his wife is recovering well from her illness.
12. Register of Births and Deaths.
Bennett spoke of the Government law which requires the registration of all births and deaths. Besides the Church Registers with which we are familiar, there is also the Register held by the Registrar. The Registration Law for Maori was Gazetted in 1913. Those who are qualified to notify the death to the Registrar are a member of the Maori Council, the Minister, or someone who is able to give the correct information to the Registrar. For births the authorised people are the father or mother, a person from that household, the Minister, or a member of the Council. The birth or death must be registered within two months of the event.
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The penalty for failing to register is £2 for the first offence and £5 for subsequent offences.
The teachers of Maori schools are Government Registrars.
Although we have not yet experienced the full force of this law the time is perhaps coming when we will find ourselves being fined. Therefore it is right that we are all reminded of this lest we find ourselves facing a sleeping enemy.
13. The Parish Accounts for Synod.
Members of the Parishes were reminded to complete their returns for Synod. The Synod will be held in Napier on Friday, 30th September.
14. The Parish Account Books for Synod.
Bennett pointed out that the account books of the Maori Parishes were not co-ordinated. In one Parish the money could be split up between the villages and even the hapu. A motion was passed: ‘That a committee be set up to look into this matter, the members to be the Chairman, Mr Pilson, Revs Hakiwai and Bennett, and Tiopira and Tomoana, and the committee to act on this matter when they see fit.
15. The Registrar-General.
Bennett said that he had received a letter from the Registrar-General in Wellington reminding Maori clergy to send copies of each marriage entry to his office in Wellington. There is a heavy penalty if ministers transgress this law which applies to the whole colony. The copy should be sent in straight after the wedding.
16. The Next Meeting.
The Chairman explained that the next meeting will be a combined meeting of all the Standing Committees in the Diocese. The meeting will be held in Napier during the Synod on Tuesday, 1st October.
17. Register of Church Members.
P H Tomoana moved and Tiopira seconded: ‘That there be a register of people in each parish who belong to the Church of England so that we can know the number in each place.’ Passed.
It was explained that this would make it easier to send out the Duplex Envelopes and to know the numbers in each parish when calculating expenses.
18. Mission.
Bennett spoke of there being a crisis within the Maori Church at this time because of the number of people who have broken away, and the few who are left to lead the great project of the Church. When a person is in distress he longs to hear about the ways in which he can find healing. It is the same with things spiritual. This is a good time for us ministers to come together and go about our parishes conducting missions to help and to teach. We could spend three or four days in each parish.
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Wharetini Rangi and P H Tomoana supported this proposal and all agreed.
19. Mission Houses.
This matter was discussed at length, particularly the amount expended on those houses. At the request of the Chairman, discussion of this was suspended until the Joint Meeting a the time of Synod.
20. Te Wairoa.
Rewi Tamihana pointed out that there was no-one to support the Church in Te Wairoa when they have no minister. He made a list of donors from amongst his Pakeha friends and this is what they have contributed for you to count. The money given amounts to £25 8s. He asked if he could lease the land for the minister’s house for a while. H would pay £4 a year. That would increase the amount to £29 8s. The meeting greatly appreciated the effort of this elder to help with the work of the faith. Part of the money would go to Melanesia, and most would go to pay off part of Te Wairoa’s debt.
The Misses Bulstrode.
Bennett shared his idea of opening a Mission at Te Wairoa run by the Misses Bulstrode. Many Hukarere girls lived at Te Wairoa. These ladies lived and taught at Hukarere for 25 years. They have completed their teaching there but they are still working among the Maori People. Were a nice house to be provided for them there perhaps they would consider this proposal. Many good things have happened in Porangahau.
They don’t want to stay there for ever because they now have with them Wharetini Rangi and Rotu. And they like places where there are problems. This matter will be held over until the Combined Meeting.
21. Diocesan Office Accounts.
Bennett moved and Henare Hutana seconded: ‘That the money for the children not be included in Parish expenses because ministers with many children are not wanted by parishes, rather they want a minister without children so they have less to pay in expenses. This matter to be returned to the Diocesan Standing Committeer for consideration with the request that this need be met from a different source.’ Passed’
The meeting closed with prayer.
F Bennett
Secretary.
‘PARTY FOR THE NEW WORLD’
T Wi Repa MB ChB
This is an appropriate time to consider how we live in this world. The Old World is behind us; it is gone. It will never, never return. So we must not long for what is past and dead. Christ says, ‘Let the dead bury their dead.’ [Matthew 8.22] The world still goes on. It does not stand still or go backwards. It continually goes forward. We are in the New World. What are we to do? Leave the Old World to its long sleep. But we are
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to grasp the good things of our World as our offering to him, and to pass on to our children. It is right that we review and renew the basis of our living in this World. Therefore, enlightened voices are saying that we should come together in this New World. So what is the programme for this Party of the New World?
I think this should be that Party’s programme.
1. Bring together those of the People who are committed to work, to education, and to thinking, and who are at present scattered.
2. Seek out and bring together the practices that are at present dispersed.
3. Bring together our observations of issues facing the people under the following categories.
(a) Matters relating to health.
(b) Ways of increasing our population.
(c) Matters affecting the schools.
(d) Matters relating to further education.
(e) Means of educating the People.
But that Party has to provide the People with leadership at this time.
WE ARE WEAK.
This is the time of aeroplanes, of the telephone, of submarines, of electricity, of buying and selling, of farming. We are bewildered in the shadow of these things. We have not contributed to the great achievements of these days. The hope is that this Party will stir up the People and enhance their lives. We have small strengths; this Party will bind them together so that they increase and become great. We have little remaining land. This Party will guide us in our weakness as to how we can work to make progress. As for our Maori schools, many hours of the day are spent doing work outside. The time for learning is wasted. This Party would bring before the Department of Education the collective dissatisfaction of the People. As for the schools like Te Aute, St Stephens, Waerenga-a-hika, Paerata, Otaki and Clareville, at present the curriculums do not include the language and the thinking of the People. Many of these schools have this kind of teaching. Would it not be right for them to have separate and different curriculums? Might it not be right to have fewer schools so that more money can be given for those that choose to continue? If there is no Party representing the People we cannot have any impact on those schools. Those schools are like private schools with a group of Pakeha supporting them with money. Although those schools function well it would be appropriate for the People who particularly value them to have a contribution to their running. One appropriate task for that Party would be to send out some people or a person to tell the People of its programme and to stir up the People. As for the health of the People, I would like to see the Marae Councils more involved with this.
That is enough of these explanations of these proposals for the ridge-pole of the house called The Party of the New World. Who is going to make the first call?
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‘SCABIES’ [Waihakihaki]
T Wi Repa MB, ChB
This is a common problem among Maori. However, it is not something that causes death. However its symptoms are [maeneene – smooth ?a rash He Pataka Kupu], itching, and disturbed sleep. This is an illness that particularly affects the skin of little children. A child’s skin is soft, and so the skin is rapidly infected [stripped off] by the mites of the illness. Pakeha also suffer from this is illness. Its English name is ‘Scabies.’ The name of the mite that attacks people’s skin is ‘Acarus Scabiei’ or ‘sarcoptes hominis.’ I point this out to you so that we are familiar with it. Maori are not the only people whose skin is attacked by scabies. Many thousands of Pakeha are afflicted with this illness.
An illness that is ignored. [Mate whakaparahako]
A child may become ill, and the parents may say, ‘It it alright; it is only scabies. There is no sense in taking him to the doctor. It is an illness that survives anyway.’ ’This is wrong thinking. This is still a serious illness. The illness will trouble the child’s sleep. When the child is small, from the age of two up to ten, the thing that contributes to his growth is sleep; if his sleep is not sound he will not grow well. He does not sleep soundly because he is always scratching until dawn. When he gets out of bed he is tired, he is not alert during the day’s work and his schooling is disturbed. When he gets older his skin is disgusting. Therefore, the parents of such children are grievously ill-treating them by allowing them to be eaten by the scabies night after night. Let us stop belittling this illness. If it is seen, take the child to be seen by the doctor or nurse.
The cause of this disease.
As was said above, the cause of this illness is a small mite. If an inch is divided into seventy parts then the length of one of those parts is the length of that mite (1/70th of an inch). But it is still visible to the eye. It is the size of the eye of a needle. If this mite is eliminated the scabies will not spread. What is it that encourages it to grow? It is filth; the mite is in the filth. If the skin of a person or child is filthy then the skin is vulnerable. Therefore, the mite makes every effort to dig a way for itself into the skin and get under the skin where it lays its eggs – two eggs each day. the skin When the mite is digging under the skin, the skin develops a rash and the child begins to scratch. It will keep on scratching while the mite is burrowing under the skin. Presently the person’s skin will come away in each place where it has been damaged by the mite and its offspring. The work of the mite becomes visible, the dirt on the body has been its relish, and it will be said that so-and-so’s child has scabies.
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Signs of that illness.
Perhaps no adult is unfamiliar with this disease. But, because there are so many skin diseases, it is right to point our the symptoms of this disease. The rash appears at the base of the fingers. There is scratching, there is pus and blood, and rotting. It ascends beyond the hands. It emerges in the armpits; there is scratching there. It shows up in a rash of red pimples. There is again scratching. There is itching at the joints, on the legs and on the soles of the feet. Then it shows itself on the skin of the face and the head. This is scabies.
Treatment.
This is an easy disease to treat. The cause of it is known. If that cause is killed then the sick person is cured. The source of the illness, the mite and his friend filth, have been written about above. If one gets rid of these two the sick person is easily healed. The remedy for the mite is hot water; the remedy for filth is soap and water. We all have these things. This is the easy way of dealing with it. Put the diseased one in a tub of hot water and wash him with soft soap. This soap is available in stores. The reason for bathing is first to wash away the dirt and secondly to soften the dried skin so that it falls off easily. Once the patients are free of the dried skin then they can be covered with the ointment. The medication is a ‘sulphur ointment.’ Mix the soft soap with boiling water as follows: Two teaspoons of boiling water with a tablespoon of soft soap. It is also permissible to mix the boiling water with Vaseline. Two teaspoons of boiling water with one tablespoon of Vaseline. This is for the body.
As for the clothing of the person or child who is ill: on th0se clothes are clinging the dirt and the mites. If the under-clothes are calico, linen, or printed cotton, then boil them all so as to kill the mites in the heat. Do not put on dirty clothes after the bathing. Do not do this! If the clothes are of flannel or wool they cannot be boiled. In this case sprinkle a dry [?ngawha] on them and hang them up for a week. After this they can be washed in warm water. When they are dry, sprinkle them again with the dry [?ngawha] which will suppress the mites. If these instructions are followed correctly the sick person should be well and the blankets and sheets should be sprinkled with dry [?ngawha],
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My plea to parents is, don’t let your children be afflicted by this dreadful disease, scabies.
Preventing the disease.
If the body is washed each day with soap and water, whether hot or cold, one will not suffer this disease. That will prevent it from starting now. New Zealand has plenty of water. Value the water and the soap and your children will not be afflicted terribly with scabies.
AN ASSOCIATION FOR THE NEW WORLD.
P H Tomoana.
It is appropriate that I follow up the articles by our friends which roused us up in the recent May and June editions of our paper. I am responding to the instructive words of Doctor Wi Repa of Te Araroa and Tutepuaki of Gisborne in which they invite us to join with them and wake up lest we stay asleep. I support these calls to rise up and be on the watch.
But how can we fulfil those ideas. Such calls to us to do this are not a new thing. But also there is nothing wrong with this call and these thoughts. No, this is what the young people of our day believe and are giving voice to. Hope is what is valued at this time. We have all observed the descent and the climb, the great and the insignificant, life and death, the calm and the storm, and other examples which balance out the two sides of everything, but some are widely experienced and others less so. Some stride forward and some fall behind. Some are straight and some are twisted.
Some are grasped and some are freed. But these things can come to an accommodation if one brings in the principles of part of this thing – love for the people. It is love that brought together the elders in their day. The histories are full of their stories.
I would cite the story of the Te Aute College Students’ Association. It was our hope, my friends, and that of those who have passed on, to improve the situation of the people. The message was expressed in the call of the time to gird oneself up [kia whitiki]. So said Hone Teimana, Sir Ngata, Archdeacon Hawkins, and Anaru Tiweka, the boys who first brought this proposal before our elder, John Thornton. He supported it, as did all of us. After this came the Association of the Elders and their paper called Huia Tangata Kotahi, Let Everyone Come Together. One cannot say if the proposals were wrong or if the people suffered because of those proposals. But we can say that we slept on that rising tide favourable to Maori. However we did not forget the saying:
E ara ana te mata-hi-taua, e moe ana te mata-hi-tuna.
The eyes of the eel-fisher are closed in sleep, but the eyes of those who fish for war parties remain open. [cf Nga Pepeha 1924]
(To be continued,)
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