ARAWA TRUST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 12

ARAWA TRUST

AFFAIRS OF BOARD HOLDING OF ELECTIONS STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN [by telegram—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Sunday The recent discussion in the House of Representatives concerning tho affairs of the Arawa Trust Board might convey the impression that tho fact that no election had been hold for the board might be attributed to some fault on the part of the present members, said tho chairman, Mr. H. Tai Mitchell, in an interview. This was definitely not tho case. Under the constitution of tho board, continued Mr. Mitchell, it was provided that biennial elections should, bo hold. The board had been formed on May 1, 1933, and an election was accordingly duo on April 31, 1935. Nominations for new members had been called, and in August of last year the Under-Secre-tary of Native Affairs had been asked by the board to set a date for tho elec. tion and indicate the procedure to be adopted. This had not been done, and as the matter rested entirely in the hands of the Native Department no blame could bo laid upon tho board. The nominations were not sent to the board itself, but to the Under-Secre-tary, and these had been forwarded at the required time last year. Certain members of {he Arawa Tribe who were dissatisfied with tho present state of affairs had made representations to tho Government and as a result of these representations the Native Minister, Mr. Savage, had indicated that he to come to Rotorua and discuss matters with the tribe. Such a discussion would be very welcome, as it would give an indication of clearing up a number of difficulties. Mr. Mitchell explained that at present a system was adopted under which at full meetings'of the various subtribes certain candidates for the election were selected to take office without opposition. Where opposition was expressed, a ballot "was held in tho usual way. There were difficulties regarding voting qualifications, owing to the fact that many Maori owners hold interests in several sub-tribal districts. At preesnt if there was no election necessary in one sub-tribal district owners who also had interests in other districts where an election was necessary were entitled to vote in these districts. He had suggested that' to eliminate the confusion caused by this system an owner should nominate the district in which ho wished to exercise his vote and exercise that vote only.