MAORI BY-ELECTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 36, 12 February 1945, Page 3

MAORI BY-ELECTION

LABOUR HOLDS SEAT

SIX DEPOSITS FORFEITED

P.A. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The by-election for the Western Maori seat, held yesterday, resulted in the return of the Labour party condidate, Mr. Matiu Ratana, with a majority of 1787 votes over Mr. Pei te Hurinui Jones, who stood as an Independent but had the support of the National party. There were six other candidates, all of whom will forfeit their deposits of £10 for failing to poll at least a quarter of the votes received by the successful candidate. The voting was as follows:— Matiu Ratana (Labour) 4687 Pei tc Hurinui Jones (Ind.) 2900 M. W. Piahana (Ind.) 450 T. R. Tupaea (Maori People's Labour) .... 378 R. P. R. M. Amohanga (Ind.) 113 P. Reweti (Ind.) 108 K. Erueti (Ind. Labour) 78 R. H. Hou (Ind.) 42 Majority for Ratana 1787 The above fig,ures include service votes for the Middle East and Central Mediterranean Force, United Kingdom and New Zealand. There may be some outstanding votes for the Pacific, Canada and India still to come, but if there are the number will be very small and cannot have any bearing ori the result. The Western Maori seat became vacant at the end of last year through the death of the sitting member Mr. H. T. Ratana. The successful candidate is a brother of the late member. He is aged 30, and for some years has been responsible for the administration of the Ratana farm. The seat has been held by the Labour party for a number of years. The late member was elected in 1935 by a majority of only 38 votes. In 1938, however, he increased his lead, being returned with a majority of 4290 over Mr. Pei te Hurinui Jones, who stood as an Independent. His majority was reduced to 3140 in the 1943 election, Mr. Jones being the next highest of the six candidates.