MAORIS VOTE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22152, 25 September 1943, Page 4

MAORIS VOTE

FURTHER LABOUR GAIN SIR A. NGATA DEFEATED For the third successive election the Labour Party gained an additional Maori seat in the House of Representatives as the result of the poll yesterday. The sitting National member for Eastern Maori, Sir Apirana Ngata, who has held the seat since 1905, was unseated by Mr T. Omana by a narrow margin. Mr T. P. Paikea was elected for Northern Maori by a substantial majority in succession to his father, the late Hon. P. K. Paikea. The sitting Labour members for Southern and Western Maori, the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene and Mr H. T.

Ratana respectively, were also re- | turned with an absolute majority over their combined opponents. 1 Details of the voting are given below with abbreviations as follows to denote party affiliations:—Labour, L.; Independent or Unofficial Labour, 1.L.; National, N.; Democratic Labour, D.L.; Independent Democratic Labour, 1.D.L.; Real Democracy Movement, R.D.M.; Independent, I. An asterisk denotes the sitting member. NORTHERN MAORI T. P. Paikea (L.) 4132 E. M. Pou (N.) 1849 K. W. Poata (1.L.) 535 P. H.. Toka (1.L.) 268 K. Harawira (I.) 244 D. W. Taylor (I.) 237 S. W. Maioha (1.L.) .... 132 P. Witehera (D.L.) 126 P. Tuwhare (I.) 65 Majority for Paikea .. 2283 A number of soldiers’ votes and 75 postal votes have yet to be included. Last Election.—P. K. Paikea (L.), 4669; Tau Henare (N.), 2658; H. Taretana (I.), 115; M. Tawhai (I.). 79. Majority for Paikea, 2011 Seat vacant since death of Hon. P. K. Paikea on April 6, 1943. WESTERN MAORI *H. T. Ratana (L.) 6087 P. Te H. Jones (1.L.) 2947 T. W. R. Pomare (N.) .... 935 M. Rangitaura (D.L.) .... 125 T. Te T. Reweti (1.D.L.) . 77 M. Peka (1.L.) 62 Majority for Ratana .. 3149 There are three returns outstanding. Last Election.—H. T. Ratana (L.), 6460; P. Te H. Jones (I.), 2193; Taite Te Tomo (N.), 1369; T. R. Hopa (1.L.), 169. Majority for Ratana, 4267. EASTERN MAORI T. Omana (L.) 5272 *Sir Apirana Ngata (N.) .. 5024 Majority for Omana .. 248 These totals include the services votes. Returns from one civilian booth are not to hand. Last Election.—Sir Apirana Ngata (N.), 4113; R. T. Kohere (L.), 3049; T. Omana (1.L.), 2126; H. D. Dansey (I.), 343; Matu Rangi (1.L.). 334. Majority for Ngata, 1064. SOUTHERN MAORI *E. T. Tirikatene (L.) .... 683 J. P. Tikao-Barrett (R.D.M.) 176 V. O. M. Thomas (N.) .. 127 Te A. Pitama (1.D.L.) .... 46 Majority for Tirikatene 507 Last Election.—E. T. Tirikatene (L.). 715; T. Bragg (N.), 230; P. McDonald (I.), 87. Majority for Tirikatene. 485. CHANGES IN REPRESENTATION TWO NEW MEMBERS ELECTED One of the two new members elected yestertlav, Mr T. P. Paikea (Labour) is aged only 2 3 years and is one of the youngest men who have ever sat in the House of Representatives. The son or the Hon. P K. Paikea, who died on April 7, lie was educated at Wanganui Technical College and Is married. In addition to farming activities he was lor three years employed in the offlee of the Maori Advisory Council or the Labour Party and later was a member or the stair or the Native Department. Volunteering Tor service at the outbreak of war, he was rejected on medical grounds. The second new member, Mr T. Ormond (Jack Ormond) Is a prominent sheep farmer at Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay. He was educated at Christ's College and served in the last war. He had unsuccessfully contested the seat against Sir Apirana Ngata in 1935 and 1938. The defeated National candidate, Sir Apirana Ngata, has represented Eastern Maori for nearly 38 years. Since the late Sir Thomas Wilford withdrew in 1930 to become High Commissioner in London Sir Apirana had enjoyed the unofficial title or •‘Father ol the House,” which is bestowed on the member with the greatest number or years of unbroken service. Born at Kawakawa, near East Cape, 69 years ago, he was admitted as barrister and solicitor in 1899 . He has been a member or many organisations concerned with the welfare or the Maori people and has held several Ministerial posts. He was knighted in 1927.