MAORI ELECTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 13

MAORI ELECTIONS

PRESENT VOTING SYSTEM NO WORKABLE ALTERNATIVE LABOUR CRITICISM RAISED [nx TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A reform in tin voting system used for Maori elections has frequently been advocated, particularly by Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Independent Southern Maori), but the Prune Minister, Mr. Forbes, said in the House of Representatives to-night that 110 workable alternative to the present open voting methods had been found. "1 have gone into the question with the chief electoral officer," said Mr. Forbes, when speaking 011 the Electoral Amendment Bill, "but 110 system that has been suggested so far would be all improvement 011 the present 0110."

Mr. R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East): You could not possibly get a worse one.

Mr. Forbes: We are still willing to do all we can to improve the present system to make it as simple and as secret as possible.

Mr. D." W. Coleman (Labour —Gisborne): Why not let them have scrutineers ?

Mr. Eorbes: We have looked into that, but there are objections. If we can get a workable scheme we will be quite prepared to consider it. "The Prime Minister says he can see 110 way of improving the electoral system for Maoris," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage. "I cannot imagine a more stupid method than the present one. Maori voters have to stand in queues telling the electoral officer the name of the candidate for whom they wish to vote. How many Europeans would like to vote under those conditions?

Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Country— Bay of Islands): Shouldn't there bo electoral rolls for Maoris?

Mr. Savage: There should be, but the Prime Minister evades that. He speaks of Maoris as if they were cavemen, as if they were men and women without the qualifications of ordinary electors. They are just as capable of voting in the usual way as anyone else. There is 110 reason why they should not vote in the same way as Europeans. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates: It can't work.

Mr. Savage:' That is the end of it, then, because the Minister of Finance says it can't work. Mr. Coates: You would find that out if vou discussed it with Maoris.

Mr. Savage: I have, and 1 think the Maoris know what they want. I have heard a representative of the native race in this House asking for some alteration. Does he not know what his own race needs? We have to send certain European electors into the booth with someone to supervise their voting and that could bo done for illiterate Maoris. Maoris are placed in the position of not daring to vote against a Government candidate. APPRENTICESHIP LAW PROBABLE AMENDMENTS [BY TELECRArH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A question whether the Minister of Labour intended to bring down a complete new apprenticeship measure this session or an amendment to the present Act was asked by Mr. R. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South) in the House of Representatives to-day. The Hon. J. Bitchener, actingMinister of Labour, replied that it might be necessary to amend the Act, but the question had not yet been finally decided by the Government.