MAORI MINISTER

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1940, Page 6

MAORI MINISTER

MR. PAIKEA’S SELECTION. WELLINGTON December 19. The selection by this week’s Caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Party of a representative of the Native Race for appointment to the Executive Council, was referred to to-night by Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. He stated that Caucus had very great difficulty in deciding between Mr. P. K. Pa'ikea (Northern Maori) and Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori). While Mr. Paikea was represented by far the larger number of natives, Mr. Tirikatene had had longer Parliamentary experience. Probably the fact of the numerical size of the Northern Electorate, plus the fstct that Mr. Tirikatene was already doing good service on the War Council, had accounted for the selection of Mr. Paikea. Both were equally qualified, and both enjoyed the full confidence of their colleagues of the Labour Party.