SIR APIRANA NGATA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 91, 20 April 1946, Page 4

SIR APIRANA NGATA

EASTERN MAORI SEAT It is reported by a Ruatoria correspondent that after a full day of traditional* Maori oratory on the marae at the Tikitiki settlement near Ruatoria, the well-known Maori leader, Sir Apirana Ngata, consented to nomination as a candidate for the Eastern Maori seat at the General Election. It was also stated at a meeting of the Rangitikei Electorate National Party delegates, by Mr. H. Marumaru, that Sir Apirana Ngata had consented to stand. Sir Apirana was defeated at the last General Election by Mr. T. Omana (Labour). The gathering at Tikitiki began with a reception to Lieut.Colonel J. C. Henare, D. 5.0., officer commanding the Maori Battalion, and was attended by more than 400 Maoris from all parts of tlie Eastern Maori electorate. In response to earlier representations, Sir Apirana had expressed the view that it would be more appropriate for a younger man to be nominated. One object of the Tikitiki gathering was to obtain the feeling of Maori ex-servicemen on this auestion, and a large number of former members of the Maori Battalion met privately. It was later stated that thev unanimously wishvl Sir Apiran n ?<nnd