THE MAORI VOTE

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4507, 20 September 1930, Page 4

THE MAORI VOTE

ELECTION PROCEDURE.

CRITICISED IN HOUSE.

There was some criticism in the House of Representatives on Tuesday of the method of conduction' Maori elections. The subject was raised by the member for the Southern Maori district, who thus called down on himself references to the fact that lie had attained his place in the House on the casting 1 vote of a returning officer. Mr. T. Makitanara (United, Southern Maori) said that thei'e was no roll in Native elections, and in hundreds of cases votes were recorded more than once,

The Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates): “Where is that done?” Mr. Makitanara: “In the North Island.” Mi*. Coates: “Where?” Mr. Malkitanara: “The matter came before the Supreme Court in 1922, and, furthermore, I have 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) :Y*Tf lie hadn’t, you might have missed the bus.” Mr. Makitanara: “That is the reason why Maoris who are not lit to represent Ihe Native race have been voted to the House.” Mr. Samuel: “You owe 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 he restored.

Mr. C. A. Wi&kinson (Independent, Eiginont) 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 he knew of cases where a half-caste had been on the European roll and had voted as a Native as well. It should be quite easy to detect such eases.

FAIRLY COMMON. PRACTICE. “The method’ of electing Maori members of Parliament,” said Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East)., “is nothing short of a scandal. There are no i’olls, there is no means of ascertaining the age of the voter, and how long lie 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. He 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. DmPICUI/TY ABOUT ROLLS. The Leader of the Opposition said lie doubted whether the House was very clear as to what Mr. Malkitanara meant. He hoped Mr. Makitanara was clear himself. Mr.

Coates said ho would have imagined that the member for Southern Maori would have been the last to complain about the 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 lion, 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. 1 think it would be 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. Some of the Natives change their names as much as three times in a lifetime.”

Mr. IV. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford) : “They can’t- all read or write.”

Mr. Coates: “Most of them can. Of course, the member for Southern Maori is a North Island Maori.”

Mr. E. E. Healy (United. W;airau): “No.” Air. Coates: “He hasn’t even got

a Maori name.” Air. Makitanara : “I was horn in tile South Island, and T am proud of it.” Air. Coates: “The lion, gentleman may he right . Perhaps' he has equal claims to both Islands.” Air. Contes added that attempts had been made in tin l past to draw u]> a Alaori roll hut there wore great difficulties in the wav. Mr. Samuel said he objected to Air. Alaikitanava’s statement that Reform Maori members had been elected who were no good, particularly as the statement had been made in the absence of the only Reform Alaori member. MY. Afakitanara: “1 don’t make that statement.” Air. Samuel: “That is exactly what the lion, member said. The lion, member is the political and spiritual head of the Ratann movement.” Air. Alakitanara: “They will knock you out, and put you where the crows won’t pick you for a day or two.” (Laughter). In reply to Air. Wilkinson, the Alblister in Charge of the Electoral Department (the Hon. H. Atmore) said that the half-caste .Maori had the option of voting at only one (‘lection—the European or the Alaori. Air. Wilkinson: “But they vote at both.” The Alinister: "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.”