MAORI ELECTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 3 November 1933, Page 8

MAORI ELECTIONS

ALTERATION WANTED PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL v MINISTER’S OPPOSITION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In introducing the Electoral Amendment Bill in the House to-day, Mr. E. T- I irikatene (hid., S. Maori) explained that voting in Maori elections was not by secret ballot, but by a declaration to a returning officer and his associate. Scrutineers were not allowed in the booth until the votes were being counted. Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn); After the damage has been done. Mr. I irikatene said the bill sought to allow scrutineers to be in the booths •while a poll was being taken. Sir Apirana Ngata "said the Prime Minister had gone into the question of Maori elections with the Electoral Office. Had lie known that the bill was to be introduced to-day lie would have sought the Prime Minister’s permission to make an official statement on the subject. As it was, he felt inclined to think that the remedy suggested by Mr. Tirikatene would probably make the position worse il secrecy was the object at which he was aiming. Secrecy would not be ensured by having more publicity. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier); Would it not supply a check on the returning officer? Sir Apirana Ngata; Yes. I don’t think any Maori member of the House would object to the presence of scrutineers, during a poll. The Minister said the whole problem of arranging a more satisfactory system for Maori elections was full of difficulties. There had been an intention during Mr. Massey’s administration to prepare Maori electoral rolls, but this had not been found altogether practicable. There was difficulty as a result of the eligibility of Maoris to vote in pakcha elections, and the question of the desirability of abolishing separate Maori representation might eventually be involved. He did not think sentiment at the present time favored such a course, and lie thought that sentiment did credit to the palcehas. The bill was read a first time.