MR. H. T. RATANA DEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1944, Page 4

MR. H. T. RATANA DEAD

MEMBER FOR WESTERN MAORI.

WELLINGTON, October 30. Deep regret at the death of Mr. H. T. Ratana, M.P. (which occurred today at Ratana Pa) was expressed this evening by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), who extended his sympathy to relatives, members of the Ratana movement, and the electors of Western Maori. Mr. Ratana, said Mr. Fraser, was certainly handicapped latterly by illhealth, due to the effects of gas in the last war, but.he was a good ana conscientous member, always imbued with a desire to give of his best for his people and electorate, as well as the Maori race generally. He was of a gentle temperament, and was anxious to strive for the welfare of all the oeople of New Zealand, pakeha as well as Maori. Everyone who knew him held him in the highest regard. He was a most successful and worthy representative of his race. His deatn was a great loss to the Maori people and to New Zealand. Immediately he received news of Mr. Ratana’s death, Mr. Fraser dispatched a telegram of sympathy in Maori to the assembled tribes.

Born at Parewanui on July 22, 1894, Mr. Haami Tokouru Ratana was the son of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, founder of the religious and social movement which bears his name. On his father’s death he succeeded to the leadership of the movement. He was educated at Wangaehu and in the Great War served for nearly four years with the Pioneer Battalion in Egypt, France, and Belgium. Until 1934, he was a dairy farmer at Wangaehu. At the elections in 1922, 1928, 1930, and 1931 he unsuccessfully contested the Western Maori seat in Parliament, standing as an independent candidate. In 1935, he again offered himself as an Independent, and was elected. Later he became a member of the Labour Party, contesting his seat in 1938 and at the last General Election as a Labour candidate. However, since he was last elected to Parliament, he had made only one appearance in the House, his absence being necessitated by ill-health. Mr. Ratana had travelled extensively, and in his youth was a good athlete. In 1935 he married Rangimarie, daughter’ of Tetua Nepia. The flag was flown at half-mast from the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, to-day, in respect to the memory of Mr Ratana.