MAORIS AND SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17113, 19 September 1917, Page 5

MAORIS AND SERVICE.

The large gathering of Maoris at Mor- y rinsvilln last week discussed the subject of '* 1 military service. Dr Poiaare read tho fol- * lowing" telegram from Sir James Allen ■. " Please gi.ve my kindly greetings to Wai> katos. Remind them that as Acting Prime ' Minister I visited them, and advised them ; to supply their 'share of men required for 3 the Maori reinforcements on the voluntary, , principle. I regret that so far they have not accepted that.advice. They have one more chance. They cannot expect me to visit them again tilFthey fall into line with '_ their brother Maoris throughout New Zealand, who have so nobly done their duty. 3 I, as a pakeha, am almost more proud _ of. > the Maoris than the pakehas, but my pride > does not extend to the Waikatos. It would ) f give me great joy to realise that the ",. Waikatos had seized the opportunity 'to ■. *" place themselves alongside tie Maori heroes of to-day." Sir James Carroll urged the Waikatos to ... supply volunteers for service the same as the other tribes had done, and so avoid the necessity for conscription. . ,' Taingakavva promised that all obstacles in V tho way of the Waikato volunteering would / bo removed. Ho would urge " King " Rata to do this, but ho objected strongly to con- ■ scription. After the matter had been dis- * cussed he would communicato with tho ■ * Government.