MAORI ELECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 5

MAORI ELECTIONS

METHOD OF VOTING A CHANGE ADVOCATED [From Ouk Parliamentary Reforms.] WELLINGTON, September IG. An immediate overhaul of the present system ot voting at Maori elections was urged by several members during the debate on the Electoral Department's Estimates in the House to-day. The question was raised by Mr Wilkinson (Egmont), who contended that under present conditions it was possible for a half-caste Maori to vote on the European roll as well as at a Maori election. “The half-caste is a Native,” declared Mr Coates (Leader of the Opposition). Mr Wilkinson; As far as 1 know, he can. qualify to vote on the European roll. In the opinion of Mr Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) there was no doubt that tho present system lent itself to abuses. Replying, tho Hon. H. Atmore (Minister in charge of tho Electoral Department) said the question was a policy : one, requiring legislation. Mr Wilkinson; But can a half-caste vote at both elections? The Minister: No. Ho has the option to vote at either; he cannot vote at both. Mr Wilkinson : You can’t stop, him. The Minister said ho did not think many breaches had occurred. “ Yes, breaches have occurred,” declared Mr Poison (Stratford). “ There is no check without a roll.” The statement was made by Mr T. Makitanara (Southern Maori) that in the back country of the North Island there were hundreds of Maoris who, under the present system, could vote over and over again. Indeed, that had been done. Mr Coates: Where? Mr Makitanara: In the North Island. Mr Coates; Where? “ Don’t go too close,” warned Mr Howard (Christchurch South). Mr Makitanara: Cases came before the Supremo Court in 1922. I have seen it myself. “ Oh. oh,” chorused Reform members. Mr Makitanara (firmly): I have seen it done. In one case the Maori signs himself Tommy Jackson and in another Jimmy Jones. (Laughter.) Mr Coates: Those are pakcha names. (Shrill Reform laughter.) Mr Samuel (Thames) : If someone had not voted three times you would have missed the bus. Mr Makitanara contended that there would be irregularities so long as no rolls were provided for Maori elections, and ho urged further that the .scrutineers should be again allowed into the booths to see that fair voting was recorded. “ The method of voting Maori members to Parliament is nothing short of a scandal,” declared Air ArmstrongIChristchurch East). “ There are no rolls, no means of ascertaining the age of the voter, and no method of ascertaining his length of residence in the .district.” The voter declared the candidate of Ins choice, and an official put tho name down. He had been informed by a Native official that it was a common practice for an officer who was in favour of a certain candidate to question the age of the voter if he indicated a desire to cast his vote for the other candidate, and also to raise other objections as to his right to vote. Mr Coates said it was known that Mr Makitanara had been particularly active of late and had constituted himself the spiritual and political leader of a certain section of the Natives. He invited tho Southern Maori member to explain how a Maori roll could be kept. Many Maoris changed their names several times in the course of a lifetime through the handing on and perpetuation of titles.

A loud negative greeted a statement by-Mi 1 Coates that Mr Makitanara was iCNorth fsland Maori. “ I am a South Island Maori, and proud of it,” said Mr Makitanara. Continuing, Mr Coates said that, under present conditions, the conduct of Maori elections depended to a large extent upon the returning officer. As far as he had been able to gauge, no wholesale were made by the organisers to bring political influence to bear on Native voters. Ho did not see how it would be practicable to keep a Native roll. “ European women change their names three or four times through marriage, but wo are able to get over that all right,” said Mr Veiteh (Minister of Railways). The ultimate speaker in the debate was Mr Samuel, who said that, as far ns the returning officers were concerned, Mr Makitanara surely had cause to be grateful. • Mr Makitanara: They will knock you out and put you where the crows won’t pick you for a day or so. (Loud laughter.)