SOUTHERN MAORI

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 248, 15 July 1932, Page 10

SOUTHERN MAORI

Labour Candidate Named Mr. Hari W. Katene has been selected as the Labour candidate for the Southern Maori by-election caused through the death of the Government member, Mr. T. Makitanara. He secured 268 votes at the general election last year, the successful candidate polling 334 votes. Born at Motueka in 1886, Mr. Katene was educated at Te Ante College after gaining a scholarship in 1900. He was appointed clerk and interpreter to the Waikato-Maniapoto District Native Land Court in August, 1914. He enlisted In 1917, and served overseas with the Maori Pioneer Battalion In the Great War, and on his return te New Zealand in 1919 he resumed his duties with the Native Land Court at Auckland. He was appointed secretary to the Native Land Claims Commission of 1920 which inquired into and reported on several important Native claims, including the famous Ngaitahu, claim, and he received special mention And commendation. He was transferred to the Akaroa and South Island Districts Native Land Court in 1920, and served under Judge Gilfedder up to the time of his retirement in 1927. He was clerk and interpreter for Chief Judge Jones of the Native Land Court at Greymouth in 1920, when the Arahura Native Reserve was partitioned; and also at Tuahiwi, near Kalapol. in 19-u, upon inquiry and. ascertainment of the bereficiary ownfers to the Ngaitahu claim. . On numerous other occasions Mr. Katene has acted as clerk and interpreter to the Native Appellate Court, and as representative of the Maori Land Board. Since his retirement from the Public Service in 1927 he has carried on business as an interpreter and Native agent in Wellington. In 19-J he was elected as chairman of the Ngaitahu committee, which was set up to inquire into certain claims for inclusion in the main list of beneficiaries to the Ngaitahu claim, and as a result'of the activities of this committee valuable information and assistance was given to the Native Land Court. _________