RAGLAN ELECTION PETITION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22312, 23 April 1947, Page 6

RAGLAN ELECTION PETITION

LINEAGE ISSUE VIEWS LENGTHY EVIDENCE ELECTORS' QUALIFICATIONS (P.A.) HAMILTON. April 22. Evidence called by counsel for the petitioner to trace the lineage of four brothers whose forebears included a European constable on one side of the family tree and a clergyman of full Maori blood on the other side occupied much of the time of the Electoral Court yesterday. The Court heard evidence as to the ancestry of most of the 19 voters challenged by the petitioner as pospessing too much Maori blood to entitle them to vote as Europeans. Counsel announced that one of these cases would not be proceeded with, while in another no evidence would be called because both the petitioner and the respondent had objected to the vote. Basis of Enrolment Marv Tekiri Tasker, of Pukemiro. said she had enrolled for Raglan because she was married to a European. Giving evidence through an interpreter, she said she had no idea how much Maori blood she herself possessed. George Richard de Thiery, of Te Kauwhata, sawmiller, giving evidence about Mrs. Tasker’s lineage, described himself as chairman of th& tribal committee. chairman of the Ngaruawahia Pa and a judge of a tribal court which existed for the settlement of any troubles which occurred among the Maoris within two miles of Ngaruawahia. He was the sole judge of this court. The Chief Justice, Sir Humphrey O'Leary: Is there any Court of Appeal? Mr. W. J. Sim, K.C.: 1 have never heard of it. It would not seem necessary with this witness presiding. Witness said that from his knowledge of Mrs, Tasker's parents and their origin, he believed her to be a fullblooded Maori. Philip Phillips, freezing worker, of Whatawhata, who voted as a European, said he had always believed himself to be a half-caste as both his parents were half-castes. He admitted that the birth certificate shown to him by Mr. R. E. Tripe, counsel for the petitioner, was that of his daughter. On the certificate his wife had described both herself and himself as Maoris of full blood. Cross-examined, witness said his wife had never known his people, and he had at no time discussed his lineage with her. Eileen Phillips, wife of the previous witness, said she had also voted. Her father was a quarter pakeha and, although she did not know her mother's ancestry', she had always regarded herself as being of Maori blood. Status of Grandmother Evidence in the cases of Thomas Mohi Berryman, Edward Dave Berryman, George Berryman and Steve Berryman, whose grandfather was a European, centred upon the question of whether their grandmother was a full-blooded Maori. Two aunts of these four electors—Mrs. Hora Hilton and Mrs. Mary Pawson—were also objected to as being of more than half-Maori blood. The cases of these six voters, all of whom live at Huntly, were taken together. Lengthy evidence as to the genealogy of the Berrym’an family was given by several aged witnesses, including one 7'l-year-old half-caste retired farmer. During cross-examination by Mr. T. P. Cleary, for the respondent, the witness admitted that he had been engaged for some time in inquiries as there were several family lineages. He had received no money for this work, and did not expect any. Asked by Mr. Cleary why he had undertaken the work, the witness replied that he had joined the National Party. He was, however . travelling about at the expense of his aunt. Mr. Cleary: Then I can only assume that your aunt is an even more enthusiastic politician than you are. Witness: Yes.