MAORI ELECTIONS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7137, 25 November 1949, Page 4

MAORI ELECTIONS

HISTORY BEING MADE WESTERN ELECTORATE The Maori elections to be held on Tuesday next (the day preceding the European polls) makes history for two reasons. It is the first occasion on which properly constituted rolls will be used and secondly it will be the first time in New Zealand’s history that a Maori woman is seeking election to Parliament. Ten candidates for Western Maori have been nominated, but one, “Sonny” Hovell, of Waihi, has announced his withdiawal. The principal candidates are Mrs Ratana, official Labour, and Mr Marumaru, National. It is believed that the two are first cousins. Te Awamutu is in the Western electorate and the Courthouse is to be the polling booth. Maoris must vote on Tuesday and not on Wednesday. The hours of polling are between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Maoris who are ill at the time must make a signed application to vote and it must be delivered to the Deputy Returning Officer before the latter can issue voting papers. As the Deputy Returning Officer cannot leave the booth on polling day immediate application must be made to him immediately. The same conditions as above apply to inmates of hospitals. Maoris whose names are not on the roll can vote after making a special declaration. The Western Maori main roll contains 10,406 names. The supplementary roll was not to hand yesterday. At last election 12,483 votes were cast. At the Te Awamutu booth Marumaru secured 25 votes and Ratana 60. Licensing Act Provisions The Licensing Act provides that no Maori shall be served with liquor in any hotel on Tuesday. The hotels will close at noon on Wednesday, the day of the general election.