MAORIS TO GO.

Evening Star, Issue 15600, 17 September 1914, Page 3

MAORIS TO GO.

[From 01-r Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. September 17. The Prime Minister intimated last night. in the House of Representatives that the Imperial Government were willing to accept the services of 200 Maoris for active service in Egypt. (Hear, hear.) He had made another suggestion to the Imperial Government, but he could not just then refer to it. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) expressed the hopo that the Government would allot a quota to each of the Maori districts, so that the Nativo force would be thoroughly representative. The Right Hon. Mr Massey said that the arrangements provided for a thorough representation of all the Maori districts. He hoped to be able to make an announcement within a few days as to another suggestion made to the Imperial Government. EMPIRE DEFENCE FUND. PUBLIC SERVANTS'' CONTRIBUTIONS. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. September 17. Members of some 55 branches of the Civil Service throughout New Zealand are being circularised by the executive of the Public Service Association with_ a view to repeating each month until November the contribution of a day's pay to the patriotic fund Shortly after the declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany the Civil servants in the Dominion, in* common with the general public, promptlv decided to lend practical assistance to" the Empire, and various departments of the Service contributed a day's pay to the Empire Defence Fund. Exclusive of the Post and Telegraph Departments and the Railway Department, some 35 branches agreed to contribute that amount, and the first collection was made it the end of August, The total amount uf these contributions has not yet been announced, but officials in the Treasury report that as soon as the returns have been made the amount will be made public. The money has been paid into the Public Account, and will be credited to the Empire Defence Fund, which is administered by the Minister of Finance (Hon. J. Allen).