NORTH AUCKLAND AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 15

NORTH AUCKLAND AREA

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, September 19

A statement concerning the decision of a conference of North Auckland Maoris, when the raising of a volunteer Maori force for home defence was favoured and conscription was opposed, was issued today by the Tokerau (Northern Maori) executive of the Labour Party, to which it is claimed 80 Maori organisations in the North of Auckland are affiliated.

At a conference on September 9 a resolution was unanimously adopted approving of eligible Maoris enlisting for military service for home defence alone, and suggesting that a body be organised and named "Treaty of Waitangi Maori Battalion" under Maori officers. Compulsion was strongly opposed.

Since the publication of this resolution about a week ago, there have been protests from Arawa Maoris, who favour an unconditional offer of service, and from a further conference of North Auckland Maoris, which held that Maoris should fight side by side with pakehas and should serve as warriors and not as labourers.

In a statement issued today the Tokerau execute said it reaffirmed the sentiments expressed in the resolution of the conference held on September 9. It deprecated any atterrfpt to introduce at this time of stress political propaganda by individuals or groups throughout the country. A special Maori battalion was desirable, it said, if only from the point of view of preserving the entity of the Maori and all that he stood for. A pioneer or non-combatant battalion was not asked for, the use to which the troops would be put oeing entirely a matter for the Government.

It would be time enough to send troops abroad when the Government decided that the necessity had arisen. When that time came there would be no quibble.

"The name 'Treaty of Waitangi' emphasises, firstly, that nearly 100 years after the treaty was signed the Maori has volunteered in defence of the Empire," continued the statement. "Secondly, it would serve to draw the attention of both Maori and pakeha to their respective obligations under the treaty.

"There is no need for conscription where the Northern Maori is concerned. History has proved the prowess of the North Auckland tribes, and they can be depended on to repeat in this war what they did in the last. It is pointed out that the younger menare responding, and for months past have been responding to the call for recruits, and are to be seen everywhere in uniform today. In the meantime those who are in a position to do so,-will, as requested by the Government, carry on the work of producing their full quota of meat, butter, and foodstuffs, so essential for the successful prosecution of any war."