MAORIS TO SERVE ABROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15716, 17 September 1914, Page 9

MAORIS TO SERVE ABROAD

.SERVICES ACCEPTED.

CONTINGENT FOR EGYPT.

TWO HUNDRED MEN WANTED

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER

[bt TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. An important announcement to ' the effect that th,- Imperial (Government lias expressed willingness to accept 200 Maori volunteers from New Zealand for service, in Egypt, was made by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives tonight. Mr. J. <;. Coates (Kaipara) asked the/ Prima Minister whether the Government would accept the sen ices of Maoris volunteering for the expeditionary force. Mi. Maguey said that, the matter had been before the Government for some days. They had communicated through His Excellency tho (Governor with tho Imperial authorities, offering the services of a number of natives \uhmteering for service at tho front or anywhere the Imperial Government wished to make use of them In reply, the (government had re<ehod a. statement, to die effect that the Hom> Government were willing to accept the service of 200 natives to go to Egypt. On receipt of this, tho New Zealand (Government had made another suggestion to the Imperial Government, which proposal he could not refer to at present. The matter was now in the hands of the Minister for Defence, who would, ; no doubt, call for volunteers for service in Egypt. ! The Hon. A. T. Ngata, Eastern Maori District, asked whether the Government would allot a certain, quota of the force to each Maori district, and thus make the force as representative as possible. Mr. Massey said that this matter had already been considered by the Government. The matter had been referred to a sub-committee of the Cabinet, consisting of the Minister for Defence and tho Hon. Dr. Pomare. There was every desire to make the contingent as representative as possible, as it might lead to greater things in the i;ot distant future. He was sure that the natives selected would do every credit to New Zealand. (Hear, boa..)

THE AUCKLAND CAMP.

TRAINING CONTINUED.

EXTENSIVE KIT INSPECTION*

Steady training was continued at the Auckland mobilisation .-amp yesfTdav. Members of the Field Ambulance spent a particularly busy afternoon with their stretchers, and underwent a most useful course of instruction. The mounted rifles continued their training, many of them riding to the Penrose rifle range for musketry instruction. The infantry battalion had rather an easy day, for most of their time was taken tip by a comprehensive kit inspection. Particular care was taken fro see that each man was fully equipped. The inspection over, the men were given an opportunity to wash some of their clothing, and later in the day many of the tents had lines strung between them, and upon the lines were, hung the garments of the troops. All the tents were lowered to enable the sun to freshen the ground upon which they have, been pitched.

A pleasing little ceremony took place on Tuesday evening, when Mr. \V. ,7. Tarter, on behalf of Messrs. Blootntield Brothers, presented each member of the 3rd. Auckland, Mounted Rifles Band going with the Mounted Brigade with an excellent pipe. and case, in memory of their late commander, Lieutenant-Colonel W. It. Bloomfield. There are 24 members of the band, under Lieutenant Whalley Stewart, accompanying the expeditionary force.

TROOPS AT DUNEDIN.

RECORD ASSEMBLY OF VISITORS

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRISS ASSOCIATION.]

DuNF.nix, Wednesday.

The civil entertainment given to-day at Tahuna Park to the Otago and Southland section of the expeditionary force proved an eminently successful affair. A half-holiday had been announced, and seldom, if ever, has such a large crowd been gathered together at one time in Dunedin.

LIFE AT SAMOA.

NEW ZEALANDER'S LETTER.

WORKING IN THE HEAT

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington*. Wednesday

One of the sappeis attached to the expeditionary force at present in Samoa writes interestingly of the conditions under which they are living at Apia. He says:— "We are roused at 4 a.m. and march with full gear on to the beach, wait thero until 7 a.m., then return to camp and have breakfast. Parade is at 8 a.m. Then we go off to tho bush, where we are cutting a, road for the camp water supply. Wo finish at nooi , start again at 1 p.m., and work on until 5 p.m. Then wo have tea, and 'lights out' comes at 9.

'"J ho weather has proved so hot that they have had to rust us between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The natives say that the white man gets sick if he works all day in the sun. So far (September 5) we have not been paid, nor has any leave been granted."

" 'llio natives always wait round at meal times looking tor ; kai' (food). There are plenty of Chinese here, and the Samoan police take a special delight in knocking them about whenever they get a chance. 1 saw two rows in which the Chinese were knocked about cruelly. On one occasion a S'amoan policeman ran into a Chinaman, and was knocked off his bicycle. When he got up he kicked 'John' on the shins as hard as he could, and tlie Chinaman did not even protest. The Samoans a.re a strong, tine-looking race, and are very polite to us. When wo pass them on the match they always salute. We are going to build a bridge and an observation tower. Wo have heard no war news since we landed, so send us all you can by return mail. I often used to think how lovely it would be to live in the islands, but the heat is a drawback."

POLLING AT CHRISTCHURCH.

CANVASSERS EXCLUDED.

[BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.^,

CHRiSTCircncH, Wednesday.

So far 1300 <>£ the troops ill camp have cast their votes in connection with the Parliamentary and licensing elections. Colonel Smith states that ever sine* polling commenced ho has given strict instructions that no one was to l)o allowed to attempt to influence the men.

THE FIELD AMBULANCES.

.MANY WILLING HELPERS. The principal medical officer of the Auckland military district, on behalf of (lie medical department of the expeditionary force, wishes to thank the following ladies, who rendered such valuable a.-sistance in equipping tho ambulance and transport hospitals:—

Mesdames .1. K<>id, J. L. R. Bloomfield, G. R. Bh.omfield, J. R. Reed, W. R. Holme?, W. Colbeck, F. Waller, T. 0. Savage. W. Coleman, P.. A. Carr, Edmonds, White, I'. Hope Lewis, R. B. Lusk. .1. ('. Martin, F. Ross, E. Russell, G. Elliot, S Upton. Streatcr, Cavaye, and W. 11. J'arkes.

Mis.-e> Gordon, Kenton, Reid, White, Reed (21, Greig (3), Henderson (21, Cooper. Geddes. Carr, Beale. Lindsay, rater, Bloomfield, Saunders, Scott. Henderson, ("oilman. Peacock, Jickell, Horton, Keesing '2), Hellaby.

Included in the equipment provided are:—loo sheets, 50 pillowslips, 50 stretcher-bearer arm badges, gauze dressings and bandages of every description —all classified and labelled.

The following ladies are thanked for special donations:—Mrs. Seymore Thome George, .Mrs. H. R. Bloomh'eld, -Miss Stewart, tlie .Misses Keening, Miss Yaughan ami twirls of the Diocesan School, Miss Butler and girls of Grammar School, Mrs. Cory Wright and ladies of Tairua, Mrs. Williams and Maori Boys' School, Miss Gordon and friends at Mount Royal, Mrs. Dawes and Victoria League girls, and Mrs. W. H. Parkes.

PAY OF RESERVISTS. [or TELEGRAPH— special CORRESPONDENT. J Wellington. Wednesday. Mr. G. Witty asked the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives tonight if ho would see that reservists who were going to the front were paid at the same rate as the New Zealand troops. "I understand," he added, "that the reservists only get 2s 6d per day." The reply of the Minister for Defence was brief. It ran: "So far a,s reservists are concerned who have wives and dependents, this has been done weeks ago.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

PATRIOTIC LEAGUE'S WORK.

VOLUNTEERS' DEPENDENTS,

THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS

I he (General Committee of the Auckland j i atriotic League met yesterday, the Mayor, Mr. C.'j. Parr, C.M.G., presiding. The Finance Committee, reported that a number of applications had been received from married men who had volunteered for active service, asking what the committee proposed to do in regard to assisting their dependents. On inquiry it was found that some of the applicants proposed to assign half of their pay, namely 14s a week, for the support of their wives and families. The committee resolved that the officer commanding the Epsom Camp be informed of the applications, and that tho military authorities be requested to obtain from such volunteers an attachment order on their pay, in order to secure their dependents a sufficient sum to live upon during their absence from New Zealand.

A sub-committee, appointed to deal with relief of distress, reported that while there were distinct evidences of pressuro and inconvenience, and some actual privation caused by unemployment and the withdrawal of" breadearners from families as the result of the war, distress in the city and surroundings had not yet reached a stage where largo sums need bo expended on its relief. On the contrary, the funds should generally be carefully husbanded until the .more acute stage, which, it is considered, is certain to bo experienced, is reached. Consultations with experts in such matters, that is people who are sympathetic with real distress, and are yet too experienced to bo careless in giving assistance, confirmed this conclusion. On the other hand, genuine cases of need did exist, and should be judiciously helped forthwith. A certain sum of money had been placed in the hands of six ladies and gentlemen connected with various charitable organisations to meet such cases. Efforts would be made to find employment for the needv. as being preferable to gnong unearned assistance, and special precautions had been taken to prevent overlapping and other irregularities. The reports were- adopted.

NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS.

FACILITIES FOR SHIPPING.

GOVERNMENT ENQUIRY

[BY TELEGRAPH— correspondent.]

Wellington, Wednesday.

Tho question of the supply of ships to take away the Dominion's exports _of meat, dairy, and. other produce was raised in the House bv .Mr. J. 0. Coates (Kaipara). He asked the Prime Minister whether ho was yet able to give the House any information on the subject. He po'inled out that there was considerable anxiety on tho subject on the part of Auckland producers. Mr. Massey said the matter was receiving the attention of the Government, but ho would not be able to make a definite statement until'the report of the committee set up to consider the question came to hand. In the meantime the Government was endeavouring to make arrangements so that the interests of the producers would not suffer. Nothing, he said, would be left undone to safeguard the interests of the producers. A further question in regard to the siipplv of ships to take away produce was asked" Mr. Wilford (Hutt). The Prime Minister stated that he did not think any serious difficulty would be experienced before the end of the present year. After that there might bo some little difficulty. The. Government would do it* best to provide the ships needed.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS LEAGUE:.

GIFT TO DEFENCE FUND.

[bt telegraph.— PßE?? ASSOCIATION'.]

Wellington", Wednesday.

The Minister for Defence to-day received a further donation of £500 from'the Bible in Schools League for the Empire Defence Fund, making the total from the league £2000.

CLOTHING FOR HOT WEATHER

[BT TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington. Wednesday.

The Minister tor Defence, the Hon. J. Allen was asked by Mr. J. H. Escott in the House of Representatives last evening if the New Zealand troops at Samoa were to be supplied with summer clothing. The answer of the Minister was that provision has been made, and the clothing will go away this week.