EASTERN MAORI
ELECTION PROSPECTS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE (Herald Correspondent.) Mr. R. T. Kohere has received inquiries from representative men of the tribes in both the north and south ot the Eastern Maori electorate as to whether lie will stand as a candidate at the forthcoming election. Although a coterie of young men of the Ngati-Porou tribe has asked Mr. Kohere to stand, he lias not so far received assurance of support from the leading men of the tribe. He is reluctant to take the step unless he receives that assurance. Europeans, on the other hand, advise him “to give it a go.” As a county councillor for many years, Mr. Kohere understands the rating problem, and it is well-known that he has advocated derating as the dissolution of the difficulty. His inclination is for Reform, although he sympathises to a very . large extent with Labor, for lie is a working man. He thinks, however, a Maori member should not have any “politics.” As it is thought that the Coalition is likely to nominate Sir Apriana Ngata, Mr. Kohere, if he should decide, to stand, will probably do so as an Independent. One difficulty that faces him is expense, 'for the Eastern Maori electorate stretches from Tauranga to Wairarapa, and this may influence him in not standing. Mr. R. T. Kohere is the head of one of the leading families on the Coast, his grandfather, the Hon. Mokena Kohere being one of the first two Maoris to be called to the Legislative Council, in 1872, the other being the Hon. Wi Tako Ngatata of Wellington. He may be regarded as a Maori journalist; for 40 years he has had much to do with Maori newspapers. While resident in Gisborne he edited Te Pipiwharauroa for many years and thus, although he lives a retiring life at East Cape, his name is well-known throughout the length and breadth of the land. He received his education :it Te Ante College and at Canterbury University College. He is one of the founders of the Young Maori Party and was the first to advocate the introduction of agricultural training at Te Aute College, which has been carried out.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18633, 18 February 1935, Page 12
Word Count
362EASTERN MAORI Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18633, 18 February 1935, Page 12
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