ANOTHER MAORI BATTALION

Southland Times, Issue 24684, 4 March 1942, Page 5

ANOTHER MAORI BATTALION

Service On Home Defence . I (PA) WELLINGTON, March 3. The War Cabinet has decided to form a Maori battalion for home defence from the Maori .volunteers for ovei- , seas service. Announcing this, me Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said that the decision followed strong representations by leaders of the Mao people and gave effect to the enthusiastic wishes of the Maoris to be actively associated in a separate unit with the defence measures now being taken. “It is expected that it will be possible to post to the battalion all men who volunteered for service overseas with the Maori Battalion of the Expeditionary Force,” said Mr Jones. New volunteers for overseas service would be posted in the first instance to suitable existing units of the Territorial Force, and as vacancies in the new battalion occurred they would be transferred to it. Those Maoris who volunteered for home defence and who were now serving with various units of the Territorial Force would remain with such units and those who volunteered in future for such service would be posted to ordinary Territorial Force units in accordance with the present practice. Where the number of Maoris in those units was sufficient they would be grouped into separate platoons and companies and opportunity would be given in such units, as well as in the new battalion, for Maoris to obtain promotion to non-commissioned and commissioned rank. Immediate action was being taken to form and organize the new battalion. The formation of the battalion would ensure that the battalion overseas which had done such excellent service and established such a splendid reputation for its formidable fighting qualities would be supplied from time to time as required with well-trained reinforcements. The Government was confident that the decision would act as a stimulus to Maori recruiting both for service overseas and for home defence, and that the outstanding record of the present battalion overseas would serve as an example and an inspiration to all home defence troops whether Maori or pakeha.