THE MAORI MEMBERS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 137, 7 December 1922, Page 6

THE MAORI MEMBERS

An interesting fact, to be noted in the voting for Maori member? of the House of Representatives is that the poll has been much heavier than in'l9l9. The Maoris are evidently taking, a keener interest in the choice of their representatives in Parliament. The result of thia awakened interest is the return of three Reform members and one member of the Liberal-Labour Party. It would be a mistake, however, to attach too much importance to the political classification of the Native representatives. The Maori' members have never been keen party men. They have rightly considered it their special duty to watch the interests of.members of their own race, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata, though in Opposition, has been consulted freely by the Government, and has co-operated with the Native Minister, particularly in effecting a settlement of Urewera land difficulties, in a way that might be taken as an example by some European members. Nevertheless, the vote for the Maori members may. be justly interpreted as an indication that the Maoris have confidence in the present Administration, and are satisfied with the political work of their representatives. The Western Maori election was particularly interesting, because Sir Maui Pomare was challenged by a son of Wiremu Ratana, the Maori faith-healer. The reasons for the challenge have never been made clear, nor whether Ratana himself supported the entry of his- son into politics. The re-election of Sir Maui by a substantial majority, shows that a large section of the Maoris is not anxious to give a political character to what has hitherto been a religious revival movement.