HISTORIC HUI

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 4

HISTORIC HUI

WELFARE OF MAORIS J PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS (S.K.) ROTORUA, Thursday ( For tho first time in history nil .Maori tribes of the Dominion were represented in a conference opened to- < day at Ohinemntu by the Prime Mill- i istor, the lit. Hon. 5 1\ Eraser. This : unity, said a prominent visiting representative. is due to two things—firstly, the «ar effort, and, secondly, the manner in which the Maori rehabilitation organisation is developing. The participation of the \\ aikatos, long at enmity, particularly with the Arawas, does not alone seal the national Maori ranks. This authority said that between other tribes there had existed friction in some degree which, however slight, had, until now, caused division. Opinions on many matters might vai}, but the fact of outstanding importance was that at this hui the representatives of all had met t:o celebrate around the council board, free from the piejudieos of the past. J bus it was a gieat and historical occasion. Second Maori Battalion In the course ol a long speech Air. Eraser covered a great deal of ground on matters touching Maori welfare and the rehabilitation of the Maori soldiers. One question was how the Second Maori Battalion should lie employed. It was necessary to consider the possibility ol using its personnel to reintorce those now- serving in Tunisia, or of its taking a place in the New Zealand forces in the South Pacific. The Govern men t wanted to know the mind of the Maori people on this matter and their representations would be given due weight. Dominion's Part in Pacific The Prime. Minister spoke of the duty of New Zealand to participate in the war in the Pacific. The country could not sit back and do the cheering while tln> Americans did the fighting and the war in the Pacific was at Xew Zealand's front door. Sir Apirana Ngata stated that it was the unanimous opinion of the assembled tribal representatives that the Second Maori Battalion should be sent to the Middle Fast. If only reinforcements for the First Maori Battalion were required from it and too many men were in training, they suggested that some he used for breaking-in country for rehabilitation purposes until their turn came to go. FINAL EXERCISE BRIGADE MANOEUVRES PRAISE FOR THE TROOPS (0.C.) 01.TAEAWAI, Thursday The final exercise of the brigade group completed a series of manoeuvres in Northland to-day. Describing the manoeuvres as a big success, the officer directing the operations. Brigadier G. Dittmer. D.5.0., M.8.E.. M.C.. said to-night that he was very pleased with the spirit shown by all ranks and with the effort made by every unit. "We have certainly made some small mistakes, but realising that we learn by making mistakes, we have thereby profited," he said. " Throughout the exercises one of our main efforts was the improvement of intercommunications, mainly from the point of view of speed and realiability. The results have been decidedly satisfactory." The manoeuvres had caused certain inconvenience to civilian traffic and to residences near the roads. That was regretted. Property owners had been most helpful in allowing the manoeuvres to be held over their land. To-day's action was, in many respects, similar to those held earlier in the week. A feature was an effective and spectacular smoke-screen, laid by the attackers. Except for a few isolated showers, fine weather was experienced throughout the week, dust from the roads and burnt scrub areas providing the chief source of discomfort. These had little effect on the spirit of the men. practically all of whom seemed to eniov the exercises. The units went info bivouacs again to-night and will return to their camp areas in convoy to-morrow.

WOMEN'S APPEALS DIRECTION TO WESTFI ELD Appeals against their direction to work at West field were made by two women when they appeared before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. The appellants were Mrs. Wilnia Ball, a machinist, who had been directed from Ross and Glendiniug, Limited, and Miss E. M. Burns, a waitress. Miss Burns had previously been employed by Thompson and Hills, Limited, who had been granted permission to terminate her employment. The assistant-man power officer, Mr. T. (!. Fielder, emphasised the staff difficulties at Westfield and said that there had been no actual increase in the female personnel as a result of the recent transfers from the clothing industry. The transfers had not been great enough to overcome the staff losses due to sickness, and the need for female workers'was as great it was previously. Both appellants stated that their health would not stand up to the work at Westfield, and Miss Burns added that, being 31 years of age, she was outside the age group which had been called upon to register with the manpower officer for work of national importance. "That does not make the slightest difference," said the chairman of the committee. Mr. .T. 0. hiddell. "There ic a good deal of misapprehension over this matter. When a woman is engaged in an essential industry she is liable to a direction from the manpower officer to go to more essential work. That applies whether a woman i* in the age group or not." Miss Burns' appeal was dismissed and that of Mrs. Ball was adjourned pending production of a medical certificate.