SOUTHERN MAORI BY-ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16144, 23 February 1918, Page 8

SOUTHERN MAORI BY-ELECTION.

j » | THE FINAL RETURN'S. | MR URU'S MAJORITY 10. ! i The one outstanding return in the Southern Maori by-election, Mnngamaunu, came to hand yesterday, but did not affect the final result beyond reducing the majority of the successful Candidaic, Mr Uru, from 2o to 10. Tho Maitgamauuu returns were as follows: Pnrnta 6. Erihana 3, '7r\i nil. This result makes the final figures:— Uru ... ... ... 242 Parata ... ./ 223 Erihana ... ... 159 3LR. URU AT TUAHIWI. SIR JAMES CARROLL AND THE PARTY TRUCE. During the interval between tho announcei2<ont of results of the Southern Maori election and tlio arrival of tjie successful candidate, the Tuahiwi Patriotic Committee, under the guidance °f Miss H. Nihoniho, arranged a "hardup social" in aid of tho Returned Boys' Entertainment Fund. The hall was packed, and a very enjoyable evening spent, the net proceeds being in the vicinity of £'10. Toward midnight Mr Hopere Uru, the successful candidate, arrived on the scene, and was accorded a most enthusiastic welcome from Maoris and pakehas alike. The chairman of the Maori Council, Mr Tehau Korako, congratulated him on his return, and wished him a successful career in the House. Somewhat similar sentiments were expressed by Messrs W. Barrett, Manawatu Te-ra, P. Hohapeta, and I. Karaitiana. Mr Uru, in thanking the electors for their support, said he would enter the llouso as an Independent, and hoped that this fact would not deter Sir James Carroll from extending the hand of friendship and assistance. Sir James, who by this time had rrrived at tho hall, predicted a general election in twelve months, when tho party truce would end, and pleaded, as only such an orator can, that i Mr Uru should. associate himself with the Liberal Party.. 'lo 1 his course, however, both Mr Uru and his supporters objcctcd, the candidate statjng that ho had first to learn whether it was from tho Reform, the Liberal, or the Labour Party that the Southern Maoris could expect the fairest treatment. i Mr G. Witty, M.P., and Mr H.- I iarata, one of tlje unsuccessful candi- 1 dates, also arrived nt the hull during tho early hours of tho morning, but owinc to a mishap to the lighting in- 1 stallation were prevented from addressing the assembly. Commenting editorially on the resuit of the bouthern Maori by-election, yesterday's "Gtago Daily" Times" says:—"We are not disposed to think that their verdict was influenced by any feeling of opposition to the Government itself. The probability is that tho election was decided upon personal grounds. If bo," tho electors Jiaye ishown a power of discrimination with which they may not have been generally credited. The plain fact of 1 the matter is that tho National Go- t vernmont's choice, the responsibility ior winch rested with Sir Josenh "Ward as lender of the party that claimed the iato member as one of its members fell upon an unsuitable candidate. It was ff" rC T- mpt ! on on Mr Plata's P o offer himself for election, and 'p ™ a^ fc "f unwisdom on the part t0 "ominato him as ment ei vr° a r d,dato ? f , the G«vornnrnl',l U'llO has IjOPll retuined was a candidate at threo preIT ; "> two ■ s defeated by narrow majorities His success at this attempt mnv bo