TO BE A CANDIDATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 10

TO BE A CANDIDATE.

WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

REV. ROBERT HADDON HOLDS

TO ' DECISION.

FRIEND OF SIR MAUI POMARE.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday.

The Rev. Robert Tohu Potiki Haddon has definitely decided to stand as a candidate for the Western Maori electorate seat rendered vacant by the death of Sir Maui Pomare. His intention was repeated in face of the presumption issued from an Auckland source that "in view of the fact that Mr. Haddon was present at a conference at Huntly, but did riot speak, it is considered unlikely that he will take part in the contest."

Telegraphic advice was received this morning confirming the decision. The main reason offered by Taranaki Maoris for Mr. Haddon's silence at the Huntly conference is indicative of Mr. Haddon's conception of custom and etiquette and a deoiro to refrain from electioneering until the ashes of Sir Maui Pomare have been laid to The candidature of Mr. Haddon seems to be looked upon with general favour in Taranaki, and the fact that no whisper of any further aspirant from Taranaki has been heard lends weight to that view. It is very probable in any case that no statutory machinery in connection with the vacant seat will be put into operation until after the funeral of Sir Maui Pomare. So far it is not known which party, if any, Mr. Haddon is likely to support, but it is known that Sir Maui Pomare and Mr. Haddon worked in concert in connection with the land confiscation compensation question, which wra debated at Waitara on the occasion of the last visit of Sir Maui to the district.