LABOUR WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1945, Page 6

LABOUR WIN

MAORI BY-ELECTION

SATURDAY'S VOTING

The Western Maori seat was > retained by Labour in the by-election on Saturday, the successful candidate being Mr. M. Ratana (official Labour). He is the younger brother of Mr. H. T. Ratana, who previously was M.P. for Western Maori and whose death caused the by-election. Mr. Pei te Hurinui Jones (Independent), who had the support of the National Party, was second. Mr. Ratana's winning margin was 1787 votes. The six other

candidates who took part failed to poll a quarter of the votes recorded by Mr. Ratana and will forfeit their deposits of £10 each. The voting was as follows:— M. Ratana (Official Labour) .. 4688 Pel te Hurinui Jones (Independent) 2901 M. W. Piahana (Independent) 450 T. R. Tupaea (Maori People's Labour) 378 R. P. R. M. Amohanga (Indev pendent) 113 P. Reweti (Independent) 108 K. Erueti (Independent Labour) 78 R. K. Hou (Independent) 42 Majority for Ratana 1787 Mr. Erueti announced his with-! drawal from the contest last week, but' as this action was taken after nominations had closed his name remained on the ballot paper. The voting figures include the Service votes for the Middle East. Central Mediterraneon 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 on the result. A start will be made with the official count this week by the returning officer, Mr. P. H. Dudson.

At the general election in 1943 the Jate Mr. H. T. Ratana (Labour) polled 6351 vfites, and Mr. Pei te Hurinui Jones (Independent Labour) who obtained the next highest number polled 3042 votes. The National Party candidate, Mr. Te Rakaherea W Pomare, obtained 976 votes. There were three other candidates with 136 78, and 73 votes respectively.