Ratana Split With Labour?

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 12

Ratana Split With Labour?

"The Press” Special Service

WANGANUI, January 28.

Unless the Labour Party withdraws the candidate it has endorsed for Eastern Maori, the Ratana movement will nominate a candidate to stand in opposition for the seat at the General Election this year. Traditionally Maori Labour members have been Ratana members, but this tradition has been broken by Labour’s endorsement of Mr S. Watene, a non-Ratana, for the Eastern Maori electorate being vacated in November by Mr T. Omana.

A Leng discussion by Ratana elders ait Wanganui at the wek-end failed to produce a Labour candidate for Northern Maori, but, it is tinders* x»d, it asked the Labour Party to withdraw Mr Watene, a Petone put i c relations officer, in favour of a Ratana candidate, or the movement will nominate its own candidate. The same position will apply in Northern Maori, unless Labour accepts Ratana's candidate. The position is bein* watched with interest by Maori political observers, some of whom would w *•

come a test of strength with Labour for the Maoris’ political allegiance. The Eastern Maori electorate could be lost by Labour and converted into a probable gain for Social Credit should the party retain l*s present decision. The strength of the Ratana movement has never been analysed separately, but it has a very wide following in the North Island. More than 6000 visitors attended a hui at Ratana Pa. south of Faoganui, at the week-end. commemorating the birth of the founder of the movement, the late Mr T. W. Ratana.