Maori Candidates To Contest Forthcoming Local Body Election

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 70, 17 July 1950, Page 5

Maori Candidates To Contest Forthcoming Local Body Election

The increasing interest being taken in public body affairs by Maoris in the Bay of Plenty is evidenced by the number of candidates who intend standing at the next local body elections. At Whakatane Maori members have not been uncommon and those who have entered the world of local bodies had served with distinction. Since the war however, they have not bothered.

First move in the district will come when the Whakatane County Council adds another councillor to represent the Urewera Country this year. He is <tobe a Maori and elected by the Tuhoe Tribal Committee. In other parts of the Bay of Plenty similar moves are being made by Maoris. At Tauranga it is reported that Maori candidates will contest the forthcoming local body elections for representation on the Tauranga Hospital Board, the Tauranga Harbour Board, the Tauranga Electric Power Board, and for certain ridings of the Tauranga County Council, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Arawa No. 1 tribal executive held at Maketu.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all Pas in the Te Puke' area, which is covered by the executive. By special invitation, a representative of the Tauranga tribal executive was -present to discuss a suggestion that the Te Puke and Tauranga Maori tribes should nominate Maori candidates for all local bodies in the area. The executive agreed that the Maori people should be encouraged to exercise the privilege of contesting the elections and decided to nominate candidates for the hospital, power and harbour boards and certain of the Tauranga county ridings.