RATANA CANDIDATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16797, 9 November 1928, Page 11

RATANA CANDIDATES

Ratana candidates who are contesting the Maori soats at tho forthcoming election are all fluent speakers in botli Maori and English (states a Wanganui correspondent). Mr. H. T. Ratana, 34, who is a son of Mr. T. W. Ratana, is icontesting the Western Maori seat. He went to the war in 1914, and saw four years’ service, and in 1924-25 travelled the world with Mr. Ratana’s party. He contested tho same seat unsuccessfully in 1922. Mr. P. T. Moko, 34. hails from Rotorua. On returning from the war lie joined up with Mr. Ratana as chief executive officer, a position lie held for many years. He also travelled the world with Mr. Ratana’s party. He was educated at St. Stephen’s College, Auckland. The candidate for the Northern seat, is Mr. P. Paikea, a young Maori who comes from the Kaipara district. Like Mr. Mako, ho received his education at St. Stephen's College. In 1915 he became a probationer in the Methodist Church, but he joined with Mr. Ratana in 1925.

The Southern seat will be contested by Mi\ E. T. Tirikatene, a returned soldier. The chief plank in the Ratana platform is the Treaty of Waitangi.