NATIVES AND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18131, 1 July 1922, Page 11

NATIVES AND POLITICS.

■ ♦ —— i WESTERN MAORI SEAT. SIB M. POM ARE'S RIVALS. THE RATANA MOVEMENT. f*X xKtiStG&ASH. —OWN COKKESPOJfDBNT. ] EAWHIA, Friday. Cousiderablo importance attache? to a great Maori gathering, just concluded at Kawhia, in view of its political bearing as jegards tie next general election. The presence of M King" Te Rata, accompanied by a large following of Waikato chiefs, was the means of attracting a converging influx of natives from all parts of Raglan, Waikato, and the King Country, until approximately 700 were camped in the settlements fringing the town. When it became known that, in addition to these

notabilities of the race, the Hon. Sir M. Fomare h»d arrived in Kawria., no little curiosity was felt as to the object of tho gathering, especially in view of the fact that several old-time political campaigners were included among the visitors. It soon become common property that an effoii was to be made to consolidate tho Waikato vote by selecting a single candidate to present a combined front to the new political "star" which bad arisen in Wanganui in the person of young Ratana the son of the Maori faithliealer.'Witii 25,000 pledged adherents to his father's cause, the youthful aspirant was undoubtedly entering the arena with the most powerful modern mana to support him. , Te Raias official welcome took place on Friday, -with ail the time-honoured series of feasting and speeches, and Saturday forenoon was allocated as a field day for the politicians. After the morning meal the assembled natives disposed themselves in groups around the marae, tribe by tribe and hapu by hapn. SeairfKl in front of the packed portion of the whare runanga was Sir M. Pomaro directly opposite was Te Rata, Borrocnded by the " royal entourage " ; at WE S distance was Tuwhakaririka, amid a select group of Waikato chiefs By common consent the last-named personage, a near relative of Te Rata, appeared to represent V/aikato, while candidates at lonaer elections present, stood down. The Native Minister was soon delivering & typically eloquent oration. He had been approached by an emissary of Ratana to subscribe to the new Covenant and had been promised the support of the tribe. These offers he bad consistently refused, and now young Ratana was standing to oppose him. He had asked " What are my tfrongdoings?** and the answer came: ** Kooe, but yon have not the vision of the Lord.** The speaker had the gravest doubts as to young Ratana's credentials as n lead«r of the race. Whatever the new faith had been it had now degenerated into a political organisation. He advised the Waikato tribes to combine and select their most virile and capable candidate to represent the race. He did not ask them directly for their vote, Shut urged them to consider well before making a choice.

Ascepttace of Challenge. Ttrwhsiaririka was not long in accepting the challenge. He quite agreed with his friend that the Waikato tribes should unite, and had no hesitation in recommending' them to vote for himself. As tnakana (eider brother) he claimed trie right to represent the tribes, contending that his tenia (younger brother) had done nothing during the. cine years he had ropresented the Western Maoris. Ha twitted the Minister with having accepted the showy and towdry tftle of ff Ta Pomare" (Sir Pomare). Was tins in keeping with their member's advice to hold fast to their ancient customs? The candidate concluded with a long list of Maori grievances, which his '* younger brother" had failed to redress. * Sir M. Pomare immediately rose to the occasion. The title had not been a personal decoration, but was an honour conferred upon the whole Maori race. He , was proud to think that both he and the people had been found worthy of such an honour. He freely admitted the part he had played during the war; bnt their young men had gone of their own volition. Tuwhakaririka himself had agreed to this policy. And were they not bound by treaty to assist the King in defending the country against its enemies ? Hs defended his own policy both in New Zealand and in the administration of the Cook Islands, and had travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand to make himself conversant with the conditions of his people. Had his " elder brother" done anything? He claimed that the " younger brother ** had earned the right of leadership which the elder had forfeited. " Let Tour Lips be Sealed." Other speakers had grievances to air which were mostly of a personal nature, the Minister replying to each in detail, and upbraiding them for not communicat;ing with him by telegram or letter. How was be to know of their troubles unless they made him aware of them? As their representative and as Native Minister he w*j always ready to help. " Sometimes the horse jibbed," "he concluded humorously, " in epite of the lash, but that may not be the fault of the horse. It was probably because the load was too heavy. AH eyes now turned to Te Rata to gain some indication of his wishes, as some of the speakers appeared to be drifting back again to politics. The secretary then rose and making use of a terse epigram characteristic of the " royal family, called for the attention of Waikato "Me tui to ngutu o raro kite ngutu o runga " (.Waikato, let your lips be sealed), and the meeting promptly terminated into private discussions as to the' relative merits of the two candidates.