FOR MAORI SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9620, 28 March 1917, Page 5

FOR MAORI SOLDIERS

NATIONAL WAR FUND REQUEST MAP Pi TO RON. O. VV. BUSSELL. A. deputation discussed yesterday with tlu> Hon- O. W. Bussell various matters in regard to the prevision of financial assistance for members ot she Maori units of the Near Zealand Expeditionary Forces. In the Eastern Maori electorate a board of trustees, including Lady Carroll and representatives of other districts concerned, lias been set up to collect and administer funds for the benefit of the Maori ■soldiers in the Expeditionary Forces, whether they belong to the native units or not. The hoard at present has in hand from £IO,OOO to £II,OOO, and the intention is to invest the money in farming operations with a view to obtaining the host return possible. The trustees have decided that it would bo a good thing to enlarge the scope of their operations so ns to cover the whole of the Dominion, and yesterday they waited on the Minister with the object of securing incorporation under the War Funds Act, and with regard to the empowering «t •Maori representatives in various districts to issue permits to collect patriotic funds.

.Mr Russell stated, in reply, that bo was very pleased to moot the deputation, and wished to assure thorn that lie and his department would help them in every possible. way. . Ho was not sure, however, whether the law at present enabled him to incorporate a national fund for the Maoris in the way desired. Hut ho would have the matter looked into, and if it could not ho done- at present the fund could meantime ba worked as a district ■scheme, and during the coming .session he would put through the legislation necessary to enable a national .scheme to bo established. He did not anticipate, that there would be any difficulty in regard to the issue of permits for the collection of patriotic funds. .He suggested that a nmd might he established for each of the four -Maori electorates, and that these could subsequently be combined in a national fund on the same lines as the ■National War .Fundi- Council. The Government, said the Minister in conclusion, realised their full responsibility to the Maori members of the .Expeditionary Forces, and would he prepared to assist in every way to show the appreciation of the people of Now Zealand of the sacrifices tiro Maoris had made in connection with the war.