NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 106, 6 May 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

CALL FOE MORE MEN ANOTHER MAORI FORCE TO BE SENT LATEST ADVICES FROM THE DARDANELLES. (IT TIMBRAPH— FRSSS ASSOCIATION.) OTOROHANGA, sth May. A number of matters connected with the war were referred to by the Prime Minister in Ins speech in opening the new municipal hall here to-day. In replying to the public address of welcome outside the hall, Mr. Massey said that he especially desired to thank the Natives who had taken part in the enthusiastic welcome to him that day. When he noticed the part taken in theproceedings by their Native friends, he was reminded of the Maori contingent that New Zealand had sent to the otherside of the world to take part 'in fight- | ing the battles of the Empire there. (Applause.) The 500 men or thereabouts that they had sent away Bad created a v«ry favourable impression, not only in New Zealand before departing, but also on landing in Egypt, where they took their place among the other troops of the Empire. , (Applause.) "The Maori contingent is now doing garrison duty at Malta," continued Mr. Massey, "but I predict that they will soon be given an opportunity to distinguish themselves in the same way as that in which their ' pakeha brethren have distinguished themselves during the last few days. (Cheers.) When that time comes; I feel absolutely certain that they will give just as good an account of themselves as we might expect from the descendants of their fighting ancestors. (Cheers.) I may follow up these remarks by telling you that the impression created by the Maoris on the great men of the Army has been so good that more soldiers of our Native race are wanted. (Hear, hear.) We shall therefore be asking within the next few days or few weeks for another contingent from the Maori race. (Cheers.) I hope that many of the young Maori men whom I now see before me will be included in that contingent." (Hear^ hear.) SORROW MINGLED WITH PRIDE. Speaking in regard to the wounded casualties at the Dardanelles, Mr. Massey said that the news that had been received on the previous day had brought sorrow to many homes in the Dominion, but it "was sorrow mingled with pride at the part our men were taking, and pride in the fact that they were doing so well. (Applause.) Right throughout New Zealand, as in other parts of the Empire, he continued, there was a determination to see the war through to its very end, and to secure a victory whatever it might cost. (Cheers.) He referred to the many evidences of German frightfulness and brutality that had occurred during the war, as giving an idea how we should be governed if by any chance — he did not think there was, the slightest chancd — Germany was victorious. The idea was unthinkable, but he asked them to reflect how much we owed to-day to the courage of our soldiers, the determination of our citizens, and the foresigh^ of the men .w.ho.conteJlgd^the / ,de,s-_ tinies of the Empire. - (Applause.) - - APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY'S MANHOOD. i In alluding to the necessity for more men, the Prime Minister said that he appealed tp the manhood of the country, to those who were not kept at home by family ties or duties, and there were thousands of such, to register thennames, so that when they were called upon they might be ready to go into camp to train for playing their part in the defence of the Empire. (Hear, hear.). Further reference to the war was made by. Mr. Massey in responding to the toast of his health at the subsequent luncheon in the new hall. He referred to- the anxiety that had prevailed in regard to the absence of a complete' list of the casualties at the Dardanelles. In regard to this matter he had just received the following cablegram from the officer in charge of the New Zealand -Records Office at Alexandria: — "Everything possible is being done, to prepare correct lists of the killed and wounded. You can understand that where so many names are involved great care is necessary in verifying before cabling. Only a few particulars as to the killed have been yet ! received. We are working at high pressure. " ' They might rely on it, Mr. Massey said, that the missing details would be supplied at the earliest possible moment. OUR TROOPS ON THE OFFENSIVE. Mr. Massey said that he had also received another cablegram, which . indicated that further fighting had taken place at the Dardanelles on Sunday a,nd Monday, and that our troops had assumed the offensive and were making successful advances in the Gallipoli Peninsula. This announcement was received with loud applause and cheers, followed by three ringing cheers for the New Zealand soldiers and the singing of " Soldiers of the King." Mr. Masey said that this evidently meant another fight and- another victory for the New Zealanders and Australians, and another victory for the Empire. (Cheers.) ANOTHER EXTRA FORCE 'POSSIBLE. In referring to . the part that New Zealand was doing in the war, he said that this Dominion was the first to have an offer of troops accepted by the Old Country. We were the first Dominion to send troops away, and our troops wero the first to take possession of German territory, Samoa, which he hoped would remain British for all time. (Hear, hear.) Including fehe men sent to Samoa and the Maori Contingent, we had sent awaj from this little country no fewer than seventeen thousand men on active service. (Applause.)^ This number also included about 250' New Zealanders who were in Britain ' when the war broke out. New Zealand, he went on to say, was also doing its part in regard to providing nurses. We had sent away fifty nurses, besides providing 12 for the Commonwealth, this making a total of 62. (Applause.) There were now in camp at Trentham approximately 5000 men, and another two thousand were re^ quired to go into camp almost at once. WILL HAVE 25,000 MEN AT THE FRONT. The men weTe now coming in at the j rate of about a thousand per week-^fap- j plause) — and it 'would not be long before \ they got the number at present required. He, however, did not know how many would be required in future. He referred to the acceptance by the Imperial Government of an additional artillery and infantry force from New Zealand. The whole of 500 artillerymen were now in camp, and it was expected that the infantrymen of this special force, about 2750 in all, would be in camp within the next few weeks. He was noL permitted to mention dates, "but judging by present appearances it would not be long before we would have 25,000 men at the fapnt £ (Apjjlauae.) No one (

could tell how long the war might last, and it might happen that New Zealand would yet be called upon to provide another 2500 men. If so, he believed they would be forthcoming. (Applause.) This country had done particularly well during the Boer War, but during the present war it had doubly risen to the occasion, for more" men had been sent away in the present Expeditionary Force than were comprised in the whole of the South African contingents at that time. Also the Imperial Government bore the expense of the contingents, but this time New Zealand had taken upon, herself the whole cost of her share of the Empire's burden. Every penny of tho expenditure connected with the assistance that we were giving to the Empire was being borne by the people in New Zealand, and he believed that this course was approved by 999 out of every thousand of the population of the country. (Applause and hear, hear.) The toasts which were honoured at the luncheon included that of " Our Boys •at the Front," proposed by Mr. J. Boddie, tho retiring Mayor of Te Kuiti, and responded to by Mr. T. E. Corkill, of the Bank' of New Zealand. The toast was honoured with the utmost enthusiasm, accompanied by cheers and the singing' of the " Red, White, and Blue."