Native School Children’s Gift To Maori Battalion

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1941, Page 4

Native School Children’s Gift To Maori Battalion

[Per Press Association.—Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day,

An appeal made by the Education Department towards the end of last year for pupils of native schools to buy and equip a mobile canteen for the Maori Battalion serving overseas has met with a splendid response. The Minister for Education (Mr. Mason) said that just over £9OO had been raised , for. this purpose, representing an average of 1/8 a head ot the school population. Mr. Mason said the keenness of the children to contribute their pennies, never too plentiful, towards this fund, had been fully exemplified by numerous letters.

One school in the Northland district, with a roll of little more than 60 pupils, had sent a contribution of £7O to the fund.

“The Government fully appreciates the warmhearted response which has been made by the children, which is a very fitting demonstration of the loyalty of the Maori race,” said Mr. Mason.

‘lt demonstrates in no uncertain manner the keenness of the children to give every assistance to their older brothers, and in many cases their fathers, who are so gallantly upholding the fighting traditions of their race in the Middle East.”

Army Area in Whangarei to be Closed

With the taking over of the Whanga-' rei Winter .Show buildings by the Army, a complete section of the town in that locality is to be enclosed, and no person will be admitted except with a permit. Robert Street is to be closed by the military and the area that will be affected, will include the electric pow;er sub-station and the pumping station as well as the Drill Hall and Patterson’s buildings. Guards will be mounted at various points to keep out all unauthorised persons.