DID NOT WAIT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1932, Page 2

DID NOT WAIT

MAORI ELECTION HUMOURS. The recent Maori election recalls to memory that of 18S7, when the late .-Sir James Carroll won the, Maori seat. Happening to be in Napier, L was enrolled by the late Captain Preece, R.M., as a deputy-returning officer, and, after being sworn in along with a native associate, was dispatched to Wainiarama sheep station to take the poll. I opened the polling booth in the woolshed next morning. The first to enter was the local .Maori chief, who calmly seated himself on a bench. When l called him up to vote, he said “Taihoa.” Knowing he was not in favour of Sir James Carroll (“Timi Kara”), 1 was quite prepared for trouble. I told him that only one voter was allowed in the booth at a time, and that he must wait outside. Of course, I knew that his idea in being present was to inuence the others. ’ ■

He still stood on his dignity when f spoke to him, so I took a sporting chance by piacing mv watch oil the table and informing him that, if after five minutes lie refused to quit, I would lie forced to ride into Napier and report him to ‘Te Pirihi, namely, Captain Preece, R.M. Thin: ‘put the wind up him,’ for I added that he would probably be fined £IOOO for upsetting the election. He simply bolt'd, not waiting to vote.