MAORI LABOUR CANDIDATE

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 4

MAORI LABOUR CANDIDATE

The 3faorOsuul Worker was visited last week by a Maori comrade from the Manawatu, Mr. McDonald, who came to Jisk that the votes polled by one of the candidates for the "Western Maori seat should be added to Labour's total. This candidate, Rangi Mawhete, stood definitely as a supporter of Mr. H. B, Holland, and at all his meetings explained from its printed leaflets the planks in the platform of the New Zejaland Labour Party. He polled 801 votes and was beaten by Dr. Pomare. Mr. McDonald stated that Rangi Mawhete was the only candidal who talked politics, ,and he gave as evidence of the "backwardness of. the -Maoris" in political issues the fact tliat Pomare sang them "Songs of Arabi." An effort will be made henceforth to form a branch of the New Zealand Labour Party among the Maoris in th'e electorate. Mawhete is a small farmer.