WESTERN MAORI SEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 6

WESTERN MAORI SEAT

SUPPORT FOR MR. TAITE TE TOMO

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 3,

The position in the Western Maori electorate, where there was a prospect of a number of candidates seeking political honours, has been simplified by the withdrawal from the contest of Mr. J. A. Asher and by a declaration from Mr. Haunui Tawhiao, grand-uncle of King Koroki and an influential Maori leader, that he will support Mr. Taite Te Tomo, official National candidate.

At one stage there were at least four contenders for National Party nomination for the Western Maori seat, and the party's choice finally fell on Mr. Tajte Te Tomo, who succeeded the late Sir Maui Pomare as member for the district, but who was defeated by a narrow margin by Mr. H. T. Ratana at the last General Election. On that occasion Mr. Asher stood as a Democrat and polled 996 votes. His candidature this year was sponsored by Mr. Haunui Tawhiao, who is not only grand-uncle of King Koroki, but who is also the oldest living descendant of the first Maori king, Potatau.

Political matters in the electorate were discussed recently at a meeting of representatives of various tribes at Huntly, and on that occasion Mr. Haunui Tawhiao announced that, although he had previously proclaimed his support of Mr. Asher as National candidate for the district, he had now consented, with his nominee, to support Mr. Taite Te Tomo. On his motion representatives of the tribes unanimously pledged their support of Mr. Taite Te Tomo.

The "understanding gathered as the result of the meeting is that King Koroki himself is remaining politically neutral, and is not supporting the widalms of any particular candidate.