MAORIS AND THE NAVY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 2

MAORIS AND THE NAVY.

. RECRUITING RESTRIOnOoiS. A CASE'FOR REPRESENTATIONS. . (Fiok On Own Cosßssroirsiirr.l ii-LONDON, October 7. . It is rather strange that in the negotiations between ! N«w Zealand and the Homo Government with regard to laval defence the position of the Maori race has never been defined. There is some sort of -provision at • present for New Zealandcrs of British extraction enlisting in _ the navy if they wish to, but the Maori race, aitlwugh pwsminently a people, of maritime traditions, and although living in New Zealand on terms of social equality with the whites, are under the same restrictions as regards enlisting tw tho Kroo boys of West Africa. , t Some time ago, in ordor to obtain information on the question, 1 put several queries to tbe Admiralty, and 1 havo now received tho following reply:—" lam commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that men of black or coloured races arc sometimes enterod in tho Royal Navy for tcmporary'and local Krvice only, on stations abroad where' thoy tiro employed for work in the sun. Such men, provided they are UritMl subjects, aro not altogether debarred from entry for general service, but no such entry can take place without tho special sanction of the Admiralty. Men of colour as a rule are not now eligible for pension. So far as is known there are no Maoris serving'in tbe navy'at present. "It cannot be stated whether ariy have ever applied for entry. The case of any Maori applying for entry would be doaft with as stated above." Those who are interested in maintaining the tea-going proclivities of tlie race nnqht .consider tlus p maUor .for negotiation be- ' tween the New Zealand Government and the Admiralty.