MAORI "DIGGERS"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19315, 4 May 1937, Page 4

MAORI "DIGGERS"

R.S.A. CLUB FORMED NON-POLITICAL BODY (Special to the Herald.) TB ARAROA, this day.. At a meeting held in the Rongomaita* pui Hall, Te Araroa, recently, a Moafi Returned Soldiers' Club was formed with headquarters in Te Arai'oa. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Sir Apirana Ngatoj M.P.; presb dent, Mr. H. V. Fairlie, Te Araroa; vicepresident and treasurer, Mr. T. M. iNgata, Te Araroa; hon. secretary, i\lr. T. R. "Tamepo, Te Araroa; committee, Mr. Sid Waititi, Cape Runaway, Mr. K. Poutu, Hicks Bay, Mr. E, M. Potae, Te Araroa, Mr. T. Takoko, Tikitiki, Mr. .1. Penfold, Ruatoria, and Mr. P. Pewhairangi, Tokomaru Bay. • The motto of the club is to be '"Patau, Tatau," and its name to be the whiti Returned Soldiers' Club.

Some of the objects of the club could be as follows:—To Foster a spirit of comradeship among all ex-servicemen, Maori and pakeha; to follow the objects find policy of the N.Z.R.S.A.; to assist the sub-associations on the Coast and also other Maori returned soldiers' clubs in New Zealand; to work in harmony with the Maori people and assist them •in any of its big functions (patriotic or, otherwise) ; to arrange for a "Kawe Mate" or representation at funerals of deceased comrades and if possible to • arrange a military funeral; to round up all Maori returned soldiers and get them interested in the work of the R.S.A. and their respective sub-associations- to make every endeavour to get all Maori returned soldiers on the Coast financial members of the R.S.A. before March 31 eacli year; to hold general meetings regularly in Maori whare runangyi, making these meetings open to the Maori people Who are truly interested in the work of the Maori returned soldier.

The policy of the Tairawhiti Maori Returned Soldiers' Club will bo non-political and non-sectarian.