SOUTHERN MAORI ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 4

SOUTHERN MAORI ELECTION.

(By J.L.W.)

' It is fifty years since the Maori Representation Act, 18.67, was passed and bccame operative in 186S, when the first elections took place —the first in the South Island taking place from April to May. The Maori electorates were four —"-Northern, Western, and Southern districts —the first three boing in the North, and tho fourth in the South Island. Aluch i consideration was given by the Weld, i Ministiy, and by Mr J'. 1). Fitzgerald ! especially, to the question ot Maori ! representation as a euro for the unrest ' and warring which went on in the ! North Island. The fact that the.first j Maori election and the first Native | Land Court took place in Canterbury : in IS6B, has made that year notable ! in the history of the South Island j Maoris. Mr Fitzgorald's letters, of I which I kept copies of many that were j translated by the Rev. Canon Stack into Maori and circulated through the Native tribes, read quite well at this j late date. In one he said: —''If we ; are to live together peaceably in the 1 same island, the Maoris ought to ! stand on exactly the same footing as J the English, and to have an equal share in making the laws and in the government of the whole country. You have a right thai this shall be granted to you." The replies of the northern chiefs to Mr Fitzgerald were very full of close reasoning, but with a past master of the pen they were no match. and thus the- principle laid down in the foregoing sentence was given effect to. I have since watched its effect, and must say it has been completely successful. During several years the four Maori members of Parliament agreed to vote equallv, two i4 0r • ® Government and two for the Opposition, till, under Mr Seddon's

regime, the Maori members were expected to vote en bloc for the Government.

1 attended the first nomination, which took placc at St. Stophon's, to the left of tho pa near Woodend. The attendance of visitors was small, but there were between 80 and 100 Maoris, besides women and ehildron. Mr Alexander Mackay, returning officer, read tho writ, of which. I have a facsimile copj, and he explained the formula of the election. G. P. Mutu proposed Tame Green, a half-caste, who was seconded by Hopa PauwnThaia Tainni proposed G. P. Mutu, who declined nomination. Pita To Hori proposed Wi Mahira, who was seconded by H. Makaika. Rev. 'Jo Kofi "proposed Paratene. Tamauiar'angi, who was seconded by Hoani TJru. The show of hands taken by the Returning: Officer was:—For Nahira 30, Green 28, Paratene 10. A poll was demanded by Green, which, took place nearly a month later at Kaiapoi,_ Rapaki, Moeraki, Arowhenua, Otopoti, Awarua, Blenheim, Greymouth, Riverton, .Akaroa, etc., and the poll was declared when the writ was returned, oo May 28th, 1868. What the exact polling was I am uncertain, and was never able to trace it. Xahira could not manage the canvass and retired from the contest, and Patterson beat Green bv only a few votes, something like 36" to "30. After Patterson's death H. K. Taiaroa was elected, and next T. Parata and C. Parata have been in Parliament. The Maoris in the sixties and seventies were included on the European rolls, and we had some interesting episodes looking up their votes and getting them to the poll. One of my last memos, of this nature is an unpaid demand :—"To the committee of . Friends, we send the bill for trans to convoy the Maoris to the polling booth for the election of member. The number employed was ten ; the charge is £10.'' J bflievo on this Inst occasion the natives used tho motor-car, and it would be interesting to know who paid, or if there was "no pay."