OVER 2000 AT FUNERAL OF LATE MAORI M.P.

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 4

OVER 2000 AT FUNERAL OF LATE MAORI M.P.

P.A. WANGANUI, October 12. The funeral of Mr Matiu Ratana, M.P. for the Western Maori district, took plac e at Ratana to-day.

There was an attendance of more than two thousand people. Included in the representation from Parliament were the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser; and Mr K. J. Holyoake, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and all the Maori members of the House, Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, Mr T. Oman a, and Mr T. P. Kaikea. Tributes were paid to the late Mr Ratana by the Prime Minister and Hon. E. T. Tirikatene. The latter referred to Mr Ratana as a son whom the Hon. Mr Fraser had guided in his Parliamentary career. As a mark of respect to the late Mr M. Ratana, Member for the Western Maori district, who died on October 7, and was buried yesterday, flags were flown half-mast on the Greymouth Post Office, Public Trust, and the Union Steam Ship. Co., yesterday. Mr Ratana, son of the Maori prophet, Mr Wiremu Ratana, was elected to Parliament in 1945 at a by-election caused by the death of his brother, Mr H. T. Ratana.