MAORI BATTALION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 11

MAORI BATTALION

SHARE OF GIFT PARCELS

ANSWERS TO COMPLAINTS [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON, Wednesday

Complaints of discrimination against the Maori Battalion in the distribution of gift parcels and comforts, reported to have been made by Maori officers who have returned to the Dominion, were replied to to-day by Mr. G. F. Briggs, senior Y.M.C.A. secretary with the second echelon, who has been invalided home.

Mr. Briggs said that when the second echelon left New Zealand the transports had on board gift parcels intended for the first echelon in the Middle East. Owing to a change in the international situation, the second echelon was diverted to Britain, and the parcels went there also. "We distributed these parcels as best we could under the circumstances," continued Mr. Briggs, "the Maoris receiving exactly the same proportion as the pakehas. At Christmas time a mobile tea canteen was allocated specially to the Maoris." Mr. Briggs said that, from his own experience and observations, he would say unhesitatingly that the New Zealanders were treated better in the matter of comforts and amenities than any other troops overseas. No instance had come under his notice of any exception being made in the case of the Maori Battalion. The policy was to distribute comforts equitably among Maoris and pakehas. Allegations of discrimination against the Maori Battalion were also commented upon to-day by Mr. G. A. Hayden. secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board. He said the board's policy was to trea'j all New Zealand soldiers who went overseas as New Zealanders, irrespective of their colour and place of enlistment. He added that consignments of comforts included special delicacies for members ot the Maori Battalion.