THE MAORI VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1930, Page 12

THE MAORI VOTE

ELECTION PROCEDURE

CRITICISED IN HOUSE

There was some criticism in the House of representatives yesterday of i the method of conducting Maori elec- ; tions. The subject was raised by the member for the Southern Maori dis-1 trict, who thus called down on himself references to the fact that he had attained his place in the House or tho casting vote of a returning officer. Mr. T. Makitanara (United, Southern Maori) said that there was no roll in Native elections, and in hundreds f cases votes were recorded more than once. The Leader of the Opposition (the Eight Hon. J. G-. Coates): "Where is that done?" Mr. Makitanara: "In the North Island." Mr. Coates: "Where?" Mr. Makitanara: "Tho matter came before the Supreme Court in 1922, and, furthermore, I havo seen it done myself. A Maori signs his name Johnny Jackson in one case and Jimmy Jones in another." Mr. A.' M. Samuel (Reform, Thames): "If he hadn't, you might have missed the bus." Mr. Makitanara: "That is the reason why Maoris who are not fit to represent tho Native race havo been voted to the House." Mr. Samuel: "You own a debt of gratitude to the returning officer." Mr. Makitanara referred to the system whereby a scrutineer was permitted to go into the polling booth as a witness of a Native's vote, and said that now it was not allowed. He asked that it should be restored. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egmont) said that the system of Natives or half-castes being permitted to vote either as Maoris or Europeans must lend itself to abuse. The House should insist on a change being made. It was a scandalous state of affairs. Mr. J. A. Young (Reform, Hamilton) said ho knew of cases where a halfcaste had been on the European roll aad had voted as a Native as well. It should be quite easy to detect such cases. FAIRLY COMMON PRACTICE. "The method of electing Maori members of Parliament," said Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchureh East), "is nothing sort of a scandal. There are no rolls, there is no means of ascertaining the age of the voter, and liow long he has been a resident in the district, and there is not even a ballot paper." There was no guarantee that the returning officer ticked off the man for whom the Native wished to vote. Ho said he had been told that it was a fairly common practice that if the voter wished to vote for the candidate the officer favoured he recorded the vote, but that if the candidate wished to vote for another candidate all sorts of objections were raised as to whether the voter had a legitimate right to vote. DIFFICULTY ABOUT ROLLS. The Leader of the Opposition said he doubted whether the House was very clear as to what Mr. Makitanara meant. He hoped Mr. Makitanara was clear himself. Mr. Coates said he would have imagined that the member for Southern Maori ivould havo been the last to complain about tho actions of a returning officer. (Laughter.) Mr. Makitanara: "I was not talking about the South. I was talking about the North, where you are." Mr. Coates: "Oh, I can understand that the hon. gentleman is very active just now. He is the self-constituted spiritual and political leader of a certain section. I don't suppose he is prepared to deny that for one moment. I think it would bo better for him to stick to the South Island. I would like him to explain to the House how he is going to keep a Maori roll. Somo of the Natives change their names as much as three times in a lifetime." Mr. t W. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford): "They can't all read or write.'' . Mr. Coates: "Most of them can. Of course, the member for. Southern Maori id a North Island Maori." Mr. E. V. Healy (United, Wairau): "No." Mr. Coates: "Ho. hasn't even got a Maori name." Mr. Makitanara: "I was born in tlie South Island, and I am proud of it." Mr. Coates: "The hon. gentleman may be right. Perhaps he has equal claims to both Islands." Mr. Coates added that attempts had been made in tho past to draw up ;t Maori rol! but there were great difficulties in the way. Mr. Samuel said ho objected tci Mr. Makitanara's statement that TJeforni Maori members had been elected who were no good, particularly as the statement had been made in the absence of the only Reform Maori .member. Mr. Makitanara: "I didn't make that statement." Mr. Samuel: "That is exactly what th-e hon. member said. The hon. member is the political and' spiritual head of the Ratana movement." Mr. Makitanara: "They will knock you out, and put you where the crows won't pick you for a day or two." (Laughter.) In reply to Mr. Wilkinson, the Minister in Charge of the Electoral Department (tho Hon. H. Atmore) said that the half-caste Maori had the option of voting at only on© election— the European or the Maori. Mr. Wilkinson: "But they vote at both." The Minister: "They cannot vote for both." Mr. Wilkinson: "You cannot stop them." : The Minister said he did not think there were many breaches. "Yes, breaches have occurred," said Mr. Poison. "There is no check without a roll."