THE ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1922, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS

THE FIRST PHASE. MAORI POLLS DECIDED. OLD MEMBERS RETURNED. NO CHANGE IN PARTIES. The first steps in the election of the new Parliament took place yesterday, when the election of the four Maori members to sit in the House of Representatives was held. The sitting Maori members comprised three supporters of the Government and one member of the Opposition, and they all sought re-election. The results available late last night show that all the sitting members top the poll in their respective districts. The only seat where there are several returns outstanding, and in which it is not stated whether they will affect the result or not, is that in which the contest is between Sir Maui Pomare (sitting member) and H. T. Ratana, though the latest returns give Sir M. Pomare a substantial majority. These results, assuming that Sir M. Pomare is in, will not change the state of parties in the House, giving the Government three members and the Opposition one, as in the old Parliament. One European member (a Government supporter) has been re-elected unopposed, so that the parties face the elections to-day with a Government strength of four and one Opposition member, leaving 75 members to be elected to complete the House. The detailed results are: NORTHERN MAORI. Tau Henare (Gov.) 2415 Nau Paraone Kawiti ..... ... 991 Hone Heke .. 379 Amaru Ngawaka 332 Ihaka Te Tai 209 One return, of about 30 votes, to come. No change. 1919.—Tau Henare 2665, N. P. Kawiti 1036, Amaru Ngawaka 135, A. R. Tuoro 71, Wiri Henare 32. SOUTHERN MAORI. H. W. Uru (Gov.) 286 MacDonald 200 Erihana .♦ 153 Barrett 136 Waitiri 16 Two small returns to come, which cannot affect the resuit. No change. 1919.—J. H. W. Uru 376, R. T. M. Taiaroa 169, T. M. Erihana 97, Hoanui Maitu 46. On the death of Mr. J. H. W. Uru, his brother was elected in his stead at the byelection. WESTERN MAORI. Sir Maui Pomare (Gov.) 3659 H. T. Ratana (Ind.) 2898 Mawhete Rangi 799 T. Paten a 112 Twelve more returns to come. No change. 1919.—Sir Maui Pomare 2669, Ngarangi Katitia 1245, T. K. Short 567, T. Patena 536, Henare Kaihau 215, T. T. Te Taniwha 212, T. P. Kawene 45, K. Te Ahu 44, Otcnp Paora 35, E. P. Chase 24, K. Te Whatanui 12. EASTERN MAORI. Hon. A. T. Ngata (Opposition) .. 4508 Taranaki Te Uamairangi 2942 Two small returns to come, which canpot affect the result. No change. 1919.—H0n. A. T. Ngata returned unopposed.

STRATFORD SEAT. MR. MASTERS’ FINAL SPEECH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. Mr. R. Masters’ final political meeting at Stratford, to-night can only be described as a triumph. The Town Hall was packed to the doors, and a moat excellent tone prevailed throughout, the tense silence being only broken by bursts of applause and evidences of approbation. There was not a single instance of heckling, which redounds to the credit of the opposition present. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) presided. Before opening his speech, Mr. Masters read a greeting from a crowded audience which he had just left at Inglewood. In a splendid speech, Mr. Masters covered many matters of importance. Dealing with the sectarian question, Mr. Masters quoted the speech of the King at the opening of the Irish Parliament, in which His Majesty had appealed for a better understanding between the two great Christian peoples as a great hope for the future. Mr. Masters •was prepared to follow the lead of the King rather than that of the Rev. Howard Elliott. Touching on Mr. Hine’s statement, that the M*aoriland Worker was distributed from Mr. Masters’ shop, Mr. Masters said it was getting pretty low down in politics when a party attempted to trap a young fellow in his shop to sell the Maoriland Worker, knowing that the action might be used against him. At the conclusion of the address, a motion of thanks and confidence, moved by Mr. George Smart, was carried with enthupism, followed by loud cheers for the candidate.

MR. HINE AT STRATFORD CHAIRMAN’S EXPLANATION. In regard to the incident at Mr. Hine’s meeting at Stratford on Tuesday night (as reported yesterday), the chairman of the meeting, Mr. J. W. McMillan, Mayor of Stratford, writes under yesterday’s date:—“Referring to Mr. J. B. Hine’s address in the Town Hall, Stratford, yesterday evening, and reported on in your paper of this morning, I would like this report extended somewhat, which would put the matter much more clearly than it stands at present. Several contended that Mr. Hine said that the distribution of the Maoriland Worker was ;by Masters. J Ad., but on the matter being referred to me. as chairman of the meeting, as to what was actually said, I have to report that Mr. Hine’s assertion was as follows:—‘That Mr. Selby was secretary of the Labor organisation at Stratford, and was distributor of the Maoriland Worker, and that he worked in Masters’ shop.”