WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13946, 29 April 1909, Page 3

WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

MR. KAIHAU INTERVIEWED

Per Press Association.

AUCKLAND, April 28.

Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.P., is preparing to put up. a kefen .fight at, the hearing of' Pepen© Eketone's petition against his ejection as representative of the -western Maori district. The petition is to bo heard at Hamilton before two judges of the Supreme Court on May 10. Speaking to a press'representative to-day, Mr. Eaihau, who has represented the western Maori district in Parliament for the last eleven years, said that Pepene Eketone's chief objection was that the system employed at the ballot on the occasion of the last election was not in accordance w ith the law. Since 1864, Mr. Kaihau says, it has been the custom at native elections for the returning officer 1 to ask each native on entering the booth his name, his tribe,i and the name of the candidate for whom he desirefTjto vote. The custom haft been for the returning officer to enter up these particulars, and to, in many cases, dispense with the need of ballot papers. Tlie petition to upset the last elect'on is based on the ground that ballot papers should have been used, and that the course of procedure employed had been irregular. "If this is so; it is no fault of mine," added Mr. Kaihau. "As far as I can understand the election was carried ' out •in accordance with the custom which has prevailed for j-ears. If there has been any improper procedure making the election invalid, then all the other candidates will be in the same position as myself. 'Personally, I have no fear of the outcome of a second election if it is necessary."