WAIROA MAN TO CONTEST SEAT FOR EAST MAORI

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 2, 22 June 1949, Page 5

WAIROA MAN TO CONTEST SEAT FOR EAST MAORI

With two of the three candidates withdrawing there nomination Mr A. T. Carroll (Turi Kara), Wairoa, was unanimously elected to contest the Eastern Maori seat for the New Zealand National Party during the coming elections, at a meeting of the Eastern Maori National Party electorate at Ruatoki during the week-end. The two candidates who withdrew were Messrs R. Kingi and C. Anaru, both of Rotorua. The meeting was attended' by Maoris from as far away as the Wairarapa, who filled the historic Rongokarae meeting house, one of the largest in the Bay of Plenty, to capacity. The 200 visitors headed by Sir Apirana Ngata arrived on the Marae Saturday afternoon. At the conclusion of the usual Maori welcome, the visitors were conducted to the meeting house, which had v>een lavishly by the women of Ruatoki. After a devine service by the Ringatu Sect, conducted by the Rev Puke Tai, the visitors were officially welcomed by Chief Takurua Tamarau and Rev W. Rangi, chairman of the No. 1 Area Eastern Maori National Electoral Committee. Tribute to Sir Apirana

•Mr Tamarau paid a special tribute to the work of Sir Apirana had done for his Maori people. Replies were made by Messrs Rei Vercoe, Hunuhunu, Ruhi Pene, Rotorua; Pitau Brown, H. Ruru, Matamuku, Gisborne; Syd Christie, W. Matamua Turi Kara, Wairoa; Stewart Meha and Pura Logan for Southern Hawkes Bay. Sir Apirana, on behalf of the Ngatiporou people, thanked ' the speakers for the warm welcome extended to him. Full Right Given

“We have gathered here for the purpose of selecting a candidate for the electorate to stand against the Labour candidate in the forthcoming election,” he said. “We have been given the full right to make the final selection, which is quite different to that of the Pakeha. From Gisborne to Wairarapa the voting power in the last election was 4760.”

It would require 800 votes from that part of the electorate to put the successful candidate into the House, Sir Apirana added. Sir Apirana also spoke on the land policy of the Labour Government, State Control, Social Security and Maori land development. Messrs Rangi, R. Kiingi, R. Vercoe, T. Tawera, S. Meha, and Carroll. also spoke.

Candidates Withdraw On Sunday at 10 a.m. the members of the conference met in the meeting house, presided over by Sir Apirana. At this stage Mr Ramiera Kingii, with permission of his committee withdrew in favour of Mr A. T. Carroll. Mr Claude Anaru, after thanking those people who were responsible for • his nomination, also withdrew in favour of Mr Carroll.

Sir Apirana thanked Messrs Kiingi and Anaru for their decisions and then declared Mr Carroll elected the official party candidate. Mr Carroll is a nephew of the late Sir James Carroll, is chairman of the Wairoa County Council and the Wairoa Hospital Board, and a member of other local bodies in the town and district. He will stand against the present sitting Labour member, Mr T. Omana.