DR. POMARE'S ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1351, 31 January 1912, Page 4

DR. POMARE'S ELECTION.

; MORE ABOUT ITS VALIDITY. IBr Teloeraph.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, January 30. The validity of Dr. Pomare's election as representative of tlve Western Maori electorate, is being much discussed by the Natives assembled for the big gathering at Waahi. Dr. Pomaro's opponents aver that ho is a half-caste, as ho is tho eon of a half-caste parent, who belongs to Taranoki, and that, as ho lives as a European, he is to all intents and purposes a European, and as such cannot legally represent a Native constituency. His followers, on the other hand, insist that as the son of a full Native of the Chatham Islands, end a half-caste mother, he is a three-quarter Native, and as such is eligible for n feat in Parliament. They agree that one who is three-quarter European has no rights of succession to Native land, and that by parity of reasoning such a one could not legallv represent a Native constituency in Parliament.

Mr. Honare Kaihan, when seen, scouted the idea of endeavouring to unseat Dr. ' l'omare. He said: "Dr. Pomare fought u good fight and an honest one, and as he. was favoured by (he large majority of the constituents who knew all libout his birth he was the legitimate member. Dr. Pomare had introduced 'no dirt' into tho electoral fight, and it would be most unbecoming on his (Mr. Kaihau's) part to institute undignified proceedings. He had been bnd'iy beaten and had accepted dofe.il in tho same manly way in which Dr. Pomare, who would prove a good friend to the Natives, had welcomed his victory. Ho therefore frould not be a party to any suit, and would not form any c.iKal ngaiust the doctor with any or all of the other defeated aiid disappointed candidates.