SOUTHERN MAORI SEAT

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1932, Page 4

SOUTHERN MAORI SEAT

POLLING YESTERDAY GOVERNMENT NOMINEE BEATEN BIG MAJORITY FOR RATAXAITE. (Per Pvppp Association.—Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. By a majority of 241 votes, Mr Eraera. Tihoma < Tirikatene, IndependentRatana candidate, was returned as member for flic Southern Maori electorate at flic by-election yesterday, necessitated by the death of Mr T. Makitannra, the former Government member. Mr William Te Thoka Parata, the Official Coalition candidate, filled second place. Officially there were six candidates,l but a few days ago - one, Mr Wiremu Mihaka, announced his retirement. However, once a candidate 'is nominated he must go to the poll. Details of the voting are:- —

ERUERA TIHEMA TIRIKATAXE (Independent Ratana) 42.1 WILIAM TE THOKA PARATA (Official Coalition) . 184 PETER MACDONALD (Ind.) ... 131 JOSEPH BEATON (Independent . : Coalitionist) 133 TAMI KATPOROHU BRAGG (Independent Reform) 94 WIREMU MIHAKA (Independent Coalitionist) 3 Majority for Tirikatane ...... 241 The total number of -votes was 950. The Southern Maori electorate includes the whole of the South Island and Stewart Island. ’

JOY IN THE CAMP. ‘‘ WRITING ON THE WALL. ” (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) . .WANGANUI, This’Day. Tliero is great jubilation among the local followers of Eatana at the result of the Southern Maori election. One leading follorvcr says that the writing is now r on the Wall, and the next election w’ill see the all four seats represented by Eatanaites. He contends that the Ratanaites have never yet seriously tackled an election campaign, but in’ future they will throw’ all their weight into, it.

DISTINCT DEFEAT. BLOW FOR GOVERNMENT, . LABOUR MEMBER’S VIEW. (Special to “Northern Advocate,’’) AUCKLAND,'This-Day. ; “That is what the Maoris think of the Government,” said Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P. for Manakau;.and ' pro-' sident of the New ' Zealand ' Labour Party, this morning, wdien commenting on the result of the Southern Maori by-election. “The Government has used the name of both of its leaders in an appeal to the Maori electors to return the Government nominee, and they have replied by giving to the Government candidate less, than 20 per cent, of the votes cast.”

Mr. Jordan said that the successful candidate, Mr. E. T. Tirikatene, was well-known for his opposition •to the Government, and in the House he would undoubtedly vote with the Labour Party, The result of the byelection was a distinct Government. defeat, and, now that the policy of the Government was known to the.' people, if a general election were held it would undoubtedly result in a simi- . Tar defeat of the Government throughout the Dominion. The Government was discredited, and was administeringa policy which it had concealed from r; the people, and which had never been acceptable to the Dominion.' • •