DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23918, 20 September 1939, Page 4

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

MAORI BATTALION FORMATION SANCTIONED GOVERNMENT 3 DECISION (|Pbr -;• United Press Association) '7 r :‘ ; \ ROTORUA, Sept 19. Ififorraiatiori has been received by the leaders iof 'the Arawa tribe from Mr A. F. Moiicur, M.P., that the Government has consented to the formation of a Maori- battalion as, part of the training! iiOif fi "force; for home defence or active.is'eryice overseas. It was stated that' the authority will cover the formation, bi-d/force ,of 600 physically fit young'Maoris, but so. far no details as to enlistnient or the camp where the men ..will bd trained, have been announced. Already the Arawa tribe alone has over 400 applications for enlistment, but -it is probable that only a portion of these-will, be- passed as fit for sermiraon'will alsb.provide their quota. The > deplsibh 'is' the outcome of a des.ife 'es;j3resged'.by the Maori people for '■ .some .time that they should be permitted to form a Maori battalion similar to the Pioneer Battalion which served with such .distinction during the .Great War. WORTH AUCKUND MAORIS VOLUNTARY enlistment *. ... FAVOURED OBLIGATIONS RECOGNISED (Per United, Press Association; ' AUCKLAND, Sept. 19. ■ A statement concerning the decision of a conference of North Auckland Maoris when the arising of a volunteer Maori; force/ for- home defence was favoured and conscription was opposed was issued to-day by the Tokerau (Northern Maori) , Executive of the Labour Party, to which, it is,claimed, 80 Maori organisations in the north of Auckland are affiliated. At a conference on, September 9 a resolution was unanimously carried’approving of eligible Maoris enlisting for mi])ta,rv- service, for home defence alotih and suggesting that, the body be organised and named “the Treaty of WaJtangi Maori Battalion ” under Maori off&drs. Compulsion was strongly op-’ posed; Since the publication of this resolution about,a week ago there have beep'iptot.ests from the. Arawa -Mapris. who;’favour an unconditional offer of service, and from a further conference of North Auckland Maoris, which held that the Maoris' should fight side by side with the pakehas and should serve as warriors and not as labourers. In a statement issued; to-day the Tokerau Executive liaid it. reaffirmed the sentiments expressed in the resolution of the conference held on SepV tember 9. It deprecated any attempt to introduce at this time of strgss political propaganda by individuals or groups throughout the country. A special Maori battalion was desirable it said, If o.nly from the point of view of preserving the; ehtity of- the Maori and, afl th>V-he,ktoQ(i-for., .’A, Soneetv or non-combatant battalion wag pot asked for£;tiie. Usetd which -the troops' would- be pijt being. entirely a matter for thd/Goveriiaienti It wduLld.be ttUne Govet&fhent decided that; had that therdt woukLbe no quibble.' , ■ > “The ndme Treaty of • Waitangi K emphasised first that nearly 10,0 yearn after, the treaty was signed ,the.Maon hag volunteered in defence of the; Empire,” continued the,'statepaent f ; “ apd,; secondly, that -it wotrld serve'to .draw the attention ■of'bdth&laornarid- pajceha to their the treaty. There is,rid need for'com-; scription where the Northern Maori is concerned History has. proved the prowess of the AucMlarid (tribes, and . they can be defended ori to;repeai: in this war, , what ..they - did in, thq,las,t. It is. Dointed but that, the younger men are ~responding, and - .for months pas'; have been responding to the' call for recruits, and are to be seen every--where in uniform to-day, - In the meantime, those who are in a position to do so will, as requested by the Government.; carry on the work of producing their full quota of meat, butter, and foodstuffs so essential for the successful prosecution of any war.”