WAR EFFORT OF MAORIS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23859, 30 January 1943, Page 6

WAR EFFORT OF MAORIS

REVIEW BY MR PAIKEA (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Jan. 29. The Minister in charge of the Maori War Effort (the Hon. P. K. Paikea), in reviewing the work accomplished by the Maori vVar Effort Organisation in the six months since its formation, announced that continuation of the organisation for a further three months i from February 1 had been approved Iby the War Cabinet. Mr Paikea said 356 tribal and executive committees had been established. It was a revolutionary experience for the Maori people to be given some form jf control. Many difficulties were encountered at the outset, bej cause of the characteristic lack of conI fidence arising from past and historic I experiences. Personal contact, how--1 ever, and definite assurances from the Government that no Maori would be ! conscripted, together with an assurance of the position of leadership, brought about a wave of war effort enthusiasm among the people. The Minister listed the following achievements of the organisation to date: 10,825 men in essential industries, 4844 in territorials for service within or beyond New Zealand, 2049 enlisted territorials for service in New Zealand only, 9875 men in the Home Guard, a total of 16.759 engaged in defence forces and a grand total of 27,584. Mr Paikea said that as the war progressed the functions and duties of the organisation were widened out to embrace the control and direction of all Maori manpower in essential industries in co-operation with district.manppwer officers and increased production of potatoes, kumeras, maize, and green vegetables, organised and operated not only as individual projects but as tribal projects. Other matters occupying the attention of recruiting officers and tribal and executive committees were; personal contact with employers of Maoris, prevention of absenteeism and dealing with cases of absenteeism, the reception and guidance of men returned from overseas, matters pertinent to rehabilitation, an approach to the problem of social changes among Maoris, and intermediate duties of an assorted and often complex nature. “Regarding many outstanding claims and grievances, the Maori people, generally speaking, have decided to allow these to remain in abeyance till more propitious times.” said Mr Paikea, “In any case at the present time their thoughts, generally speaking, are directed on one thing only; that is the war effort.* 1