THE MAORI BATTALION

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 2

THE MAORI BATTALION

I COMPULSION DECIDED ON. I ■ AX EARLY PROCLAMATION. The Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Allen, states that the Goverraent has decided, on the recommendation of the Recruiting Board, to extend the provi- I |sions of the Military Service Act to j | Maoris, in order to provide the rein-j forcements necessary to keep the pioneer | battalion at full strength. It is pro-' "posed to divide the North Island into six Maori recruiting districts, and it is ex-I pected tiiat the preparation for enrolment will be sufliciently advance- to enable the statutory proclamation to be. gazetted in about a" fortnight. The ex- ! tension of compulsory service to the Maoris is provided for under section 50 of the Act, explained the Minister, who I "added that he is empowered under it to \ call up Maoris from any one recruiting I district to tlie exclusion of the others, j The need of utilising the ballot in the case of the Maoris has been hastened by the failure of the tribes in one particular district to respond to the call for men, while the other districts have in some easels become almost denuded of j their manhood in their splendid answer to the Empire's call, said Sir James Allen. The proclamation will not apply to the I South Island, which contains but a neglligible number of eligible Maoris.