Maori Election

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 1

Maori Election

LARGE POLLING EXPECTED CITY BOOTH BUSY Very little work will be done in the Maori kaingas to-day. It is the date of the Maori election, and the Maori takes his politics very seriously. Although the bulk of the voting in the Northern electorate will be done in the North Auckland district, ample provision has been made for the Maori electors resident in Auckland, the “Whare Pooti” sign being erected outside the office of the Native Land Court in the Government Buildings in Customs Street, at the Maori meeting house in Orakei village, and at the house of Mr. A. H. Te Mete in Beach Road, Milford. A country booth is also located at Reweti. Quite a large number of voters, no doubt imbued with the desire of making a day of it, came in to the city to record their votes. At an early hour they commenced to gather in small groups near the polling place to engage in the desultory greetings and handshakings without which no occasion seems complete. Restaurants and fish shops will no doubt experience increased business, but unfortunately for those of the menfolk who would desire to celebrate the occasion with other varieties of refreshments hotels are closed to them. According to the Licensing Amendment Act, no person belonging to the aboriginal race can be supplied with liquor to-day. This includes halfcastes. and persons intermediate in blood between half-castes and persons of pure descent from that race. Good polling was reported at the Auckland booth this morning and a busy afternoon was expected. Polling will close at four o’clock. A list of the candidates for the four seats is given below. Official Government candidates are denoted by G: those classing themselves as Independent Reform by 1.G.; Labour and Independent Labour by L; United by U: Ratanaites by Ratana: and representatives of the Treaty of Waitangi Party by Wait. Retiring members are marked with an asterisk. Northern Maori Tau Henare* G. Henare King! Waiaua . . I. Wait. Tamaho Maika U. Paraire Paikea Ratana Ripi Wi Hongi Wait. Hone Heke I.G. Eastern Maori Sir Apirana Ngata* U. T. P. Stewart L. P. T. T. Moko L Western Maori Sir Maui Pomare* G. H. T. Ratana Ratana. Southern Maori H. W. Uru* G. P. H. McDonald L. E. T. Tirikatene Ratana. W. T. Pitama I. J. C. T. Tikao G. Tuiti Makiterana U. At the last election there were only three candidates for the Northern Maori seat, as compared with six today, and Mr. Tau Henare secured a majority of 1,601 votes over the next aspirant on the list. Western Maori had two candidates. Sir Maui Pomare's majority being 2,632. There was also a straight-out contest in Eastern Maori, which Sir Apirana Ngata won by 3,513 votes. Five candidates went to the poll in Southern Maori, and Mr. Uru won by 16 votes in a very small poll. The complete returns are not exiMcted until fairlv late to-night.