The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1946 MAORI INTEREST IN ELECTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 36, 11 October 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1946 MAORI INTEREST IN ELECTION

UNPRECEDENTED interest in the forthcoming election is being exhibited by the Maori communities of this district. The native vote next month may very well swing the balance of power in our Parliament of the next three veais, and it would seem that the Maoris are fully aware of this. Never before have they been so well organised, never before have they taken so much intelligent note and interest in political deliberations. From what can be gleaned fiom authoritative representatives in this district, there appears to have been a very definite swing back to the veteran parliamentarian' Sir Apirana Ng'ata, who is once again contesting the Eastern Maori Seat which he lost three years ago to the Labour contestant. The reason for this we understand is due very largely to the influence of the returned members of the Maori Battalion, with whom Sir Apirana was ever popular on account of his magnificent war activities. The Maori race is stirring itself very definitely, and groups are already organised for the purpose of spreading propaganda for their respective idealogies. Campaigns have been launched for fund raising, whilst the younger set is already engaged in cultivating social relations in the interests of the two major parties. It is somewhat remarkable to note the split opinion now exhibited by the Maori race, which six years ago was pledged almost unanimously to the labour cause. That it has not been influenced by possible political gain, is patent to all who have observed the open-handed manner in which the Labour Government has dealt with all things pertaining to the native race, very often, it has been alleged, to their detriment. The new wave of politicalmindedness is very welcome in that it serves to indicate the resurgence of the Maori nature of the individual responsibility which rests with ever voter at the polling booth, and which perhaps has been all too conspicuous by its absence in the past. Our Maori friends are thinking!