MAORI VOTE FEARED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 65, 18 April 1944, Page 3

MAORI VOTE FEARED

LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL QUESTION OF PRODUCTION "Farmers are particularly incensed that this thing has been rushed through without giving them proper time to find Avhat the Local Elections and . Polls Amendment Bill is about, ' and if it were not for the travel restrictions there would be an invasion of Wellington right now," said Mr Hallyburton. Johnstone, president of the Waikato sub-provin-cial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and chairman of. the Raglan County Council, and Mr iA.. C. A. Sexton, vice-president of the Auckland Provincial branch of the Union, in a joint statement on the Bill. Both visited Wellington to give evidence on the Bill.

They stated that many people did not appreciate the sweeping change which the Bill proposes. Under its clauses any non-ratepayers with a three-month residential qualification and any person, including nonratepayers and Maoris who are on a Parliamentary electoral roll, might be placed on the electoral roll of a local authoritj'. The effect of that in many counties would be to place Maoris and non-ratepayers in control of the administration and finance of these counties. Farmers' Union Protest "Branches of the Farmers' Union throughout the country are protesting at the action of the Government in forcing through such a Bill at this time," said Mr Sexton. "The psychological state of the farming community at present is bad, because they feel that other sections of the community are treated very much better than they, and that they are. not getting the help and encouragement to which they are entitled from the Government. Such a state of mind is unfortunate at this .time, when every pound of food that can be provided is so urgently needed in Britain. There is no question of the farmers going slow, but it is obvious that no one, farmer or otherwise, can put out a full effort when he feels that Jiis position is not property looked after by the Government. Unless he has a full heart in his work, he cannot put out a maximum physical effort.

"The Bill will create further dissension, and will inevitably lead to increased rating. Additional money taken as rates means a reduction in output, because the farmers cannot pass on the increase. Practically the whole income from general rates is spent on roads and bridges, which are instruments of production."

There had ben real alarm among the farming community when they learned the. provisions of the Bill, and meetings of protest had been lield in many eases.

Large Maori Populations

As an illustration of,the way in which the voting power would move from the hands of the ratepayers, a list of 25 counties throughout New Zealand where, the Maori population, a majority of which is nonratepaying, amounts to 25 per cent and even more of the. population Avas given. The Maori had many good qualities, but. had not displayed any conspicuous ability in finance and administration, it was stated, and that vote, together with that of European non-ratepayers, would completely alter the incidence of coun/ty voting and remove the power from the hands of those whose production entitled them to it.

The figures given were as follows

1941 Europeans Maoris Gt Barrier Mand 330 80 •Raglan 8070 2280 Manganui 4.500 4040 Whangaroa 1190 1500 •Hokianga 3690 5630 Bay of Islands 5820 4920 Otorohanga 4460 1310 Kawhia 1260 1100 Waitomo 5690 1990 Tauinarunui 2670 1140 Tauranga 6950 3300 Thames 2230 510 Rotorua 3590 2500 Taupo 2410 820 Wha'katane 6130 4670 Opotiki 2140 2760 Matakoa 470 1520 Uawa 990 810 Waikohu 2570 750 Cook 6330 1580 iWairoa 3710 4040 Hawke's Bay 12,980 2270 Waimarino 2580 530 jWanganui 2710 1080 Stewart. Island 360 130