LABOUR VICTORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 228, 25 September 1943, Page 6

LABOUR VICTORY

FOUR MAORI SEATS

DEFEAT OF SIR A. NGATA

All the Maori seats in the House of Representatives were won by Labour candidates at the elections held yesterday, the feature being the defeat of Sir Apirana Ngata, sitting National member for the Eastern Maori seat, by Mr. T. Omana, his only opponent. Sir Apirana had represented the Eastern Maoris since 1905.

Mr. T. P. Paikea was elected for Northern Maori by a large majority, to succeed his father, the late Hon. P. K. Paikea.

The sitting Labour members for the Southern and Western Maori seats, the Hon. E. T, Tirikatene and Mr. H. T. Ratana, respectively, were returned by large majorities. Details of the voting in the four electorates are given below. Political affiliations are represented by the following abbreviations:—Labour, L.; Independent or Unofficial Labour, 1.L.; National, N.; Democratic Labour, D.L.; Independent Democratic Labour, 1.D.L.; Real Democracy Movement, R.D.M.; Independent, 1. An asterisk denotes the sitting member NORTHERN MAORI T. P. Paikea (L.) 4132 E. M. Poll (N.) 1849 K. W. Poata (1.L.) 535 P. H. Toka (1.L.) 268 K. Harawira (I.) 244 D. W. Taylor (I.) 237 S. W. Maioha (1.L.) 132 P. Witehera (D.L.) 126 V d . Tuwhare (I.) 65 Majority for Paikea 2283 A number of soldiers' votes and 75 postal votes have yet to be included. Last Electic-n.—P. K. Paikea (L.), 4669; Tau Henare (N.). 2658: H. Taretana (I.). 115; M. Tawhai (I.), 79. Majority for Paikea, 2011. Seat vacant since death of Hon. P. K. Paikea on April 6, 1943. WESTERN MAORI •H. T. Ratana (L.) 6087 P. te H. Jones (1.L.) 2947 T. W. R. Pomare (N.) 935 M. Rangitaura (D.L.) 125 T. te T. Reweti (1.D.L.) 77 M. Peka (1.L.) 62 Majority for Ratana 3140 There are three returns outstanding. Last Election.—H. T. Ratana (L.), 6460- P te H. Jones (I.). 2193: Taite Te Tomo (N.). 1369; T. R. Hopa (1.L.), 169. Majority for Ratana, 4267. EASTERN MAORI T. Omana (L.) 5272 *Sir Apirana Ngata (N.) 5024 Majority for Omana 248 These totals include the services votes. Returns from one civilian booth are not to hand Last Election.—Sir Apirana Ngata (N.), 4113R. T. Kohere (L.). 3049; T. Omana (1.L.), 2126; H. D. Dansey (I.), 343; Matu Rangi (1.L.), 334. Majority for Ngata, 1064. SOUTHERN MAORI •E. T. Tirikatene (L.) 6 83 J. P. Tikao-Barrett (R.D.M.) 176 V. O. M. Thomas (N.) 107 Te A. Pitama (1.D.L.) .......'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.', 46 Majority for Tirikatene 507 Last Election.—E. T. Tirikatene (L.), 715" T McDonald a) - 87 - Majorlty

LONG SERVICE IX PARLIAMENT For nearly 38 years Sir Apirana Ngata had represented Eastern Maori in the House of Representatives. He was first elected in December, 1905, and since the retirement of the late Sir Thomas Wilford in 1930, to become High Commissioner in London, he has had the unofficial title of "Father of the House," which is given to the member with the greatest number of years of unbroken service.

He was born at Kawakawa, near the East Cape, in 1874, and was educated at Te Aute College and Canterbury University College, where he graduated B.A. in 1893. In the following year he graduated M.A. with honours at Auckland, and in 1896 gained his LL.B. degree, being admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the following year. He was appointed organising inspector to the Maori Council in 1902, and resigned in 1904. He has taken great interest in various organisations for Maori welfare and culture, and has held several Ministerial posts. He was elected a member of the New Zealand University Senate, and was knighted in 1927. THE NEW MEMBERS Mr. T. P. PaiKea, who follows his father as the uaDour representative of the Northern Maori seat, is only 23 years of age, and is therefore one of the youngest men who have ever sat in the House of Representatives. He was educated at Wanganui Technical College, and later took up farming. He was for three years in the office of the Maori Advisory Council of the Labour party, and later was a member of the staff of the Native Department. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of war, but failed to pass the medical test. He is well known in League football circles in Auckland, being a member of the Manukau League team.

. Mr. T. Omana, who defeated Sir Apirana Ngata for the Eastern Maori seat, is well known by his anglicised name of Jack Orniond. He is a prominent sheep farmer of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, and was educated at Christ's College. He served in the last war. Mr. Omana contested the seat against Sir Apirana in 1935 and 1938. MR. FRASER PLEASED OVATION FROM MAORIS (P.A.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. "It gives me great pleasure to tell you that Labour has won all the Maori seats. It is an indication of what is to follow," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, when addressing a Maori Labour victory rally in the Wellington Trades Hall last night. Mr. Fraser arrived late in the proceedings, having come from an election meeting, and was given a •rousing welcome, which included a haka and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr. Fraser subsequently conversed with many at the gathering.