HOW MANY VOTES?

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 220, 17 September 1930, Page 8

HOW MANY VOTES?

MAORI ELECTION PRACTICES. MR. MAKITANARA KNOWS. "TOM JACKSON AND JIM JONES." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

• An immediate overhaul of the present system of voting at Maori elections was urged by several members during a lively debate on the Electoral Estimates in the House to-day. The question was raised by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egniont), who contended that under present conditions it was possible for a half-caste Maori-to vote on the European roll as well as at the Maori election. "A half-caste is a native," declared the Rt. Hon.. J. G. Coatee,-Leader of the Opposition. . , , , A Member: A half-caste can be either. Mr. Wilkinson: As far as I know he can qualify to vote on the European'roll. : In the opinion of.Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader, of the, Labour party, there was no doubt that ,thc present system lent itself to abuses. •■■■>■ Option For Half-Castes. Replying, the Hon. H. Atmore, Min-. ister in charge of the Electoral Department, said the question was a policy one requiring legislation. Mr. Wilkinson: But can a half-caete vote at both elections ?. s The Minister: No. He has the option to vote at either.. He cannot vote at both. \ . Mr. Wilkinson: You can't stop him! . The. Minister said he did not; think many breaches had occurred. "Yes, breaches have declared Mr. W. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford). "There is no check without a roll." -*-'•- ... Plural Voting. ' The statement was made by Mr. T. Makitanara (Government, Southern / Maori), that in the jack country of the S T orth Island there ,vere hundreds of Maoris who under ;he present system :ould vote over and >ver again. Indeed, ;hat had been done. Mr. Coates: ?v"here ? - Mr. Makitanara: '.n the North Island. Mr. Coates: iVhere? "Don't go too close," warned Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South). Mr. Makitanara: Cases came before the Supreme Court in 1922. I have seen it myselfl "Oh, oh," chorused Reform members. Mr. Makitanara (firmly) :T have seen it done. Iri one case a Maori signs himself Tommy Jackson and in another Jimmy Jones. (Laughter.) Mr. Coatee: Those are pakeha names. (Shrill Reform laughter.) ■- Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames), to Mr. Makitanara: If someone had,not voted three times you would have missed the bus! * S : Mr. Makitanara contended that there [Would be irregularities so long as no rolls were provided for Maori elections, and- he urged further, that scrutineers should be again allowed into the booths to see that fair voting was recorded. '"A Scandal. ,, . "The.method of voting Maori members to Parliament is nothing short of a scandal," declared Mr.. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East). "There are no rolls, no means of ascertaining the age of the voter, and no method of ascertaining hie length of residence in the district." The voter declared the candidate of his choice and the official put the name down. He had been informed by a native official that it was a common practice for an officer who wae in favour of a certain candidate to question the ago of the voter if he: indicated a desire to> cast his vote for the other candidate, and also to raise other objections as to his right to vote. Mr. Coates invited the Southern Maori member to explain how a Maori roll could be kept. Many Maoris changed their names several times in the course of a lifetime through the handing on and perpetuation of titles. A loud negative greeted a statement by Mr. Coates that Mr. Makitanara was a North Island Maori. "I am a South Island Maori and proud of it," said Mr. Makitanara.

Changes of Name. Mr. Coates said that under present conditions conduct of Maori elections depended to a large extent upon the return--ing officer. As far as he had been able to gauge, no .wholesale efforts were made by organisers to b»ing political influence to , bear on native voters. ,He did not see how it would be practicable to keep a native roll. "European women change their names three or four times through marriage, but we are able to get over that all right," said the-Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways. ' ' The final speaker in the debate was Mr. Samuel, who said that members knew Mr; Makitanara had constituted himself the spiritual and political head of the Ratana movement. As far as returning- officers were concerned Mr. Makitanara surely had cause to be grateful. Mr..Makitanara: They will knock you out and put you where the crows won't pick you for a day or so. (Loud laughter.)