WESTERN MAORI SEAT

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 81, 30 December 1944, Page 8

WESTERN MAORI SEAT

Mr. Mariu Katana. Likely Labour Candidate . Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, December 29. Though the names of 14 Maoris have been submitted to the national executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party by various Alaori Labour committees throughout the Western Alaori electorate. Air. Marin Rataua. younger brother of the late ’ Air. T. Ratana. M.P., will most likely be the official Labour candidate to contest the by-election next February. A statement to this effect was made in Wanganui by a spokesman of the Ratana movement. “It is understood by most of those who have been nominated that they will stand down and support the candidate who becomes the official nominee,” the spokesman said. He added, however, that this did not apply to Air. Kapou Erueti. of Kai Iwi, near AVanganui, who had declared when his nomination was 'submitted by the Pukerangiora committee (AVaitara) that he intended to stand as an independent Labour candidate. Air. Alariu Ratana, aged 28, is a farmer living at Ratana. He is tiie youngest son of the founder of tiie Ratana movement. Last week lie was interviewed in AVellington by the Labour selection committee. It is stated tiiat this body has made its choice of candidate, but no official information will be forthcoming till later.