MAORI ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2364, 3 December 1908, Page 5

MAORI ELECTION.

m A.POINT OF LAW. SHOULD THE HOTELS CLOSE? The legal point as to whether the Electoral Act of 1905 makes it imperative that the, hotels should close on the day when the election of a representative in Parliament of .the Maori race takes place, was discussed among hotel-keepers yesterday-. Sergeant Hutton, during the morning, warned all the local hotelkeepers that they were required to close their bars •at noon, and all complied. Mr Lucas, licensee of the Coronation Hotel., at first demurred, hut later on fell into accord with the other licensed victuallers.

The point as to whether the hotelkeepers can be forced to close their bars on the day of a Maori election is a very doubtful one, and this is the first time the decision lias been forced upon Gisborne hotelkeepers, if Sergeant Hutton’s interpretation of the law is correct, it means that all the hotels in the South Island, which is one native electorate, must observe the prohibited hours, and that the majority of hotel bars —the hotels in the cities .alone being excepted—in the North Island must close. It is probable that the licensed victuallers in different parts of the Dominion will obtain a legal opinion on the question.

THE POLLING. Mil. A. T. NGATA RETURNED. -- _ « 'The triennial election for a representative in Parliament of the Native's of the Eastern Maori electorate took place yesterday. The electorate extends from Tauranga, including Rotorua, to Cape Palliser. Tbe candidates were the retiring member, Air. A. T. Ngata, and Mr. R. Park (in Maori Tiki Paaka.L Air. Ngata, who stood as a representative of the New Alaori jiarty. .scoring an easy victory. Tbe polling "in. Gisborne was not very heavy, but a number of elderly natives took a keen interest tin the contest, and worked hard to bring their fellow electors to the poll. In all nearly 150 polling booths were open. The following were the figures at the principal places: Ngata. Pa aka.

The returns from eighteen booths have yet to come to hand, but the result cannot- be altered.

MAORI ELECTORATES

GENER AL RETCRNS

[Frkss Association.]

WELLINGTON. Dec. .2

The results to hand of the voting for Maori members of .the House of Representatives are as follows: NORTHERN DISTRICT. Hone Helm 1182 Hare To llangi 333 Thirteen returns to come, cannot affect the result. EASTERN DISTRICT. Apirana Ngata ... 4126 Tiki Paaka 1482 Eighteen returns to come; cannot affect the result. SOUTHERN DISTRICT. __ Wharerata Urn ... 351 Tame Parata ... 350 Charles West ... 22 Two returns to come. WESTERN DISTRICT. Hen are Kailiau 1902 Pepene Ekeioue ... 1397 Tc lleulieu ••• 1140 Hema te Ao ... 1088 Erura te Jvaha ~. 430

Gisborne ••• ... 92 17 Ormond ... 35 "5 AVaerenga-a-liikr i. 17 6 To Haioto ... 14 20 To lvara'ka ... 64 4 Muriwai ... 18 47 AVliakato ... 94 12 Hirnharama ... 83 ■— Te Araroa ... 143 4 AVairoa ... 123 S3 Rangitukia ... 103 ■— Nnliaka ... 96 67 Moll aka! ”... ... 86 — AVaipawa ... 100 28 Toko mar u ... 120 3 Opotiki ... 146 23 Masterton ... 67 7 Rotorua ... 134 145 Matai ... 121 54 Other places ...24S4 951 Totals 4140 14S1