MAORI BY-ELECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 1

MAORI BY-ELECTION

MR. A. H. TE METE IS STILL IN CONTEST NO TRUTH IN RUMOUR A rumour to the effect that Mr. A. i H. te Mete intends to withdraw as a candidate of the Western Maori seat is definitely contrary to fact. This fact was made clear this morning when Mr. te Mete was interviewed by a Sun representative. He said that there was no truth at all in the rumour which had circulated that he was going to withdraw, although it was necessary for his nomination to be confirmed by Ratana. This confirmation was expected at any time. According to Mr. te Mete, his great aim is to bring about some amalgamation between the parties of Ratana and Waikato. He held that unless these people combined, it was useless to endeavour to obtain the full re-, quirements of the native race. The advantages to be gained by these two parties getting together could not be stressed too much, for each was striving for the same end. And the natives had grievances, based on the Treaty *of Waitangi, which they desired to be heard, but this could only bo given justice by both parties pooling their efforts. Mr. te Mete is a well-known personality in Auckland, after the fine work he has accomplished in furthering the interests of the Maoris. He started his education in Tauranga, where he won a scholarship at the native school there to St. Stephen’s College, Parnell. He has also become well known for his active interest on the administrative side of several sporting bodies. After leaving the university, he became a native interpreter, and in this capacity, together with one in which he worked strenuously in the interest of his own people, he came in contact with many of the Waikato people. He is 39 years of age. ___ YOUNG MAORI PARTY MR. PEI TE HURINUI-JONES Another candidate for the Western Maori seat, Mr. Pei te Huriuui-Jones, is 32 years of age, and is a descendant of the noted Maniapoto chief. Hauauru Poutama. He was educated first at the Ongarue Public School, proceeding from there to Wesley Training College at Auckland. He is standing in the interests of the Young j Maori Party. Iu 1920 he was appointed to a position in the Native Department at Wanganui as associate to Judge Ac.heson, and later to Judge Brown. He continued in this position until 1925, when he was transferred to Auckland to take up special duties as Consolidation Officer in charge ot the King Country Consolidation of native lands, upon which work he is at present engaged. in the course of his duties he has come in contact with practically the whole of the natives within the Western Maori electorate, and has, as a result of his experiences, become intimately conversant with many of the problems confronting the native race. Mr. Pei te Hurinui-Jones Is also prominent in the field of sport, taking the keenest interest in the organisation of football and tennis. He has played representative football for both King Country and Wanganui, and he is also a keen tennis enthusiast. He was the first secretary and treasurer (and still a member) of the Maori Lawn Tennis Association, which was instituted mainly by the Young Maori Party.