DEEDS OF MAORI BATTALION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 6

DEEDS OF MAORI BATTALION

RETURNED MEMBERS WELCOMED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 10. Many tributes were paid by pakeha and Maori speakers to the deeds of the Maori Battalion with the ■ 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, at a gathering this morning under the auspices of the Ngati-Poneke Maori Association to enable members of their own race to welcome home men of the Maori Battalion among the party of sick and wounded recently returned from the Middle East. The welcome was with traditional Maori ceremonial. Mr Kingi Tahiwi was chairman. Mr Hapi Love, on behalf of the NgatiPoneke people, voiced their pleasure in being able to welcome the men back. He paid a high tribute to their courage and tenacity, and thanked them for the honour they had gained for their people. Sir Apirana Ngala spoke appreciatively of the work done by pakeha' officers, among them LieutenantColonel H. G. Dyer, one of those being welcomed, in training and moulding the battalion as a fighting unit. Speeches of welcome were also made by the Acting-Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) and representatives of Maori tribes. "The best general Germany has produced in this war, Rommel, said in Berlin that if all New Zealanders fought like the Maoris they would be terrible fighters,” said Colonel Dyer. "Your men have proved the right of your race to exist. They are as fine and upstanding men as have been produced in the Empire.”