WESTERN MAORI SEAT

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3196, 2 September 1930, Page 8

WESTERN MAORI SEAT

LITTLE PROGRESS AT MEETING.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. The,forthcoming by-election for the Western Maori electorate was the subject of much discussion at Manukorihi pa yesterday and last night, but at the end of the korero, lasting well into the night, the position was very much the same. _ _ During the afternoon the Rev. R. T. Haddon, one of the candidates, pointed out that there was still almost 18 months of the present term of Parliament to run and according to Maori custom the seat should belong to Taranaki for the remainder of the term. He thought it strange that candidates had offered themselves from other tribes. If the Maoris of the Western electorate decided to erect a monument to Sir Maui Pomare, let them show their sentiments by asking one of his sons to take the seat for the remainder of the term. Mr P. H. Jones (Maniapoto) thereupon offered to withdraw his candidature if Mr Taite Te Tomo also withdrew. Next Mr T. Hopa (Wanganui) agreed to withdraw. Mr H. H. Piahana also withdrew. Mr Taite Te Tomo, however, threw a bombshell into the meeting by announcing that he had no intention of withdrawing. He would leave the matter for the people to decide. Seeing that Mr Taite Te Tomo adhered to his decision to stand, Messrs Jones and Piahana decided to continue their candidature, but Mr T. Hopa has apparently retired from the contests.