WESTERN MAORI

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1935, Page 10

WESTERN MAORI

MR. TE HOWERA AT PARIROA. LABOUR'S NATIVE POLICY. The native policy of the Labour Party was traversed before a large gathering of Maoris in the spacious Wharepuni Porohenui at the Pariroa pa at Kakaramea on Wednesday by Mr. Te Herewini te Moananui Howera, the Labour candidate for the Western Maori electorate. The meeting was the 211th held by the candidate involving a mileage of 6000 miles. In the candidate’s party were Mr. Ko Tawera te Wherowhero, Waikato, uncle of King Koroki. No use of the European language was made by any of the speakers in submitting the party’s platform 'nd as is customary the appeal for support was made by those accompanying Mr. Howera and not by the candidate himself. Mr. Kio Tarawhiti referred to the death of Mr. H. E. Holland while attending a tangi at Taupiri. The natives’ tender treatment of him elicited a pledge from Mr. M. J. Savage to assist the Maori race. Labour in office would at once establish a commission to adjust and examine all native difficulties real and imaginary. Much native land was rated that was inaccessible and in many cases unsaleable and of no value. The Labour Government on attaining office, would immediately appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the native land claims arising out of and subsequent to the Treaty of Waitangi. The Labour Government would set up ? native council to advise it upon all matters relating to native affairs. A full inquiry would be made into the system of rating native land nd the equitable adjustment of the incidence of the rates. Assistance would be granted to deal with the many pests, gorse, ragwort and blackberry. After the past four years they could be forgiven for thinking that their biggest pest was the pakeha. Mr. Tame Poata submitted the qualifications of the candidate which, he claimed, would assure his audience of his ability to be entrusted with their affairs. His public life had been an active one and he had been, or was still, associated' with the following bodies: Waihi Borough Council, Waihi Hospital Board, Waihi Technical School Advisory Board, Waihi School of Mines Council, a life member of the Auckland Institute and Museum, of which body he was the only Maori and the youngest member, and the Polynesian Society and Scientific Research Council. He was a returned soldier and was a well known enthnologist and authority on. ancient Maori lore and mythology. His candidature had received full endorsement f—the Waikato and Ngaiterangi people ar " King Koroki. Mr. Howera pledged himself to work in their interests and as their representative to move throughout the electorate keeping !in touch with them and their needs. A Patea native said that both he and others of the district had had enough of the present administration and hoped for a change. Several speakers expressed their appreciation of the party’s visit. Mr. Tame Poata expressed appreciation of tlie presence of the Press which was the first occasion he recalled of having a Press representative at a pclitical meeting at a pa.