IN NEW ZEALAND.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 178, 2 September 1914, Page 8

IN NEW ZEALAND.

MAORI VOLUNTEERS. ANXIOUS TO SERVE EMPIRE. WILL THEY BE ACCEPTED? [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 1. In the House of Representatives tonight Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) asked the Prime Minister whether,,in view of the employment by the British Government of Indian troops in the present war, the New Zealand Government was prepared to accept the military services of Maoris who are desirous of ■volunteering. ..

The Right Hon. W. F. Massey said he had a good deal of sympathy with the suggestion. There had always .been an understanding that coloured .races would not be employed in any European war, but now there was a precedent of Indians being taken to Europe for the purpose of taking part in the present war. The Maoris were free citizens of the Empire and shared all the benefits and privileges of citizenship, and he did not think they should be denied the privilege of fighting for the Empire. That was his opinion, and he would be glad> .with the consent of the Governor, to forward suggestions.' *•' . •> The Right: Hon. Sir Joseph Ward re-, marked that the relaxation' of the former understanding having been made it might very well be extended to the Maoris, subject to the Imperial Government agreeing. He believed the great majority of the people of this country: would be very proud to see the; Maoris, who were noted for their fine fighting powers, joining in the defence of the Empire.

, The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) said there was undoubtedly a desire oh the part of the' Maori people to stand-shoulder to shoulder with their British fellow subjects in the present war. (Hear, hear.) So. practical ,& man as the present Minister of Defence must know that the.bulk of the Maori population lived in the areas that were exempt from training, and although the Maoris were enthusiastic in their desire to-go forward, there was a greater demand for training in their case than in the case of the E'akehas'of the country who were offering. He would make the suggestion to the Minister of Defence that if the offer of the services of the Maoris were accepted by the Imperial Government, steps should be, taken immediately to have concentration camps in some of the Maori .areas where the Maori volunteers might be trained. He ventured the opinion that in some of the minor requirements of a soldier the Maori was naturally well equipped. He was a natural scou"t, and, in the matter of commissariat, he was not surpassed in this country. 'lf itcame to roughing it he was well equipped. He wanted to be trained in the holding:of a gun, the understanding of the words of command, evolutions, and, above all, the steadiness which was characteristic of the mobile army operating under General French. The Arawas had offered 300 men, and the Wairoa Natives could supply , a like number, and it seemed that the services of every British subject were required at present. The offers made to the Government would, he thought, be sufficient to fill one troopship. In the event of the Maoris going he hoped to be able to find it convenient to accompany them, probably in chai'ge of the commissariat.

TROOPERS' LETTERS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 1. The Defence Department states that all communications for the members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force should be addressed cafe of the General Post Office, Wellington. From there letters will be redirected to their destination. Letters for members of the advance party and main body should be addressed accordingly, ' e.g., " (name), Advance Party, New Zealand 'Expeditionary Force, care G.P.0., Wellington; (name), Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, care G.P.0., Wellington.'' CARGOES IN ENEMY'S SHIPS. Press Association. WELLINGTOxNT, September 1. It has been announced that all persons having any interest in cargoes, other than enemy cargoes, laden on enemy ships captured as prizes, and requiring release of' such cargoes or portions of cargoes, should make enquiries in Wellington at the office of the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General will • require proof of ownership and particulars as to freight, whether paid_ or unpaid. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUBS. FORMED INTO COMPANIES. The president of the Christchureh Working Men's Club, Mr J. P. Cakes, has received advice from the Defence Office of the acceptance of the Defence Rifle Club formed in comiection. with that institution. The personnel'of the corps, with only two or threa exceptions, consists of ex-ni( nibors of the old volunteer service, and out of the total membership (33) they have an aggregate of 153 years' service. The corps also has a fine percentage of crack shots, and will prove an acquisition to any defence corps. It has been decided

by the Defence Department to form rifle clubs into companies, and the following rifle clubs will form the "A" Company: No. 1„ Christchurch Defence: Rifle Club; No. 2, Christchurch Veterans' Defence Eifle Club; No. 3, Christchurch Working Men's Club Defence Rifle Club j No. 4, Lincoln Defence Rifle Club. "B" Company consists of four Peninsula Defence Rifle Clubs.

At a meeting of the -Christchurch Working Men's Club Defence Rifle Club, the following officers were elected: —President and platoon commander, Mr J. P. Oakes; vice-president and platoon sergeant, Mr P. Jack; treasurer, Mr A. Rosanouski; secretary, Mr A. Miles; committee, Messrs W. D. Adams, G. Brydon, S. Cockburn, H. Feast, H. Harris, J. Kane, C. G. Sand and A. J. Taylor. ■" It may be mentioned that this corps has lost five of its members, who have volunteered for service, namely, J. Baxter, G. Brydon, H. ,G. Hunt, C. J. Hawker and G. Tabart.

The president, who is an old volunteer officer, and who has had 26 years' service, is very keen, and is desirous of bringing this corps up to 100 strong, if possible, and efforts will be put forward to that end. He now invites enthusiasts to'send in their names, particular!y, exmembers of the old volunteers. The vice-president is also an old volunteer, with sixteen years' service, and is an excellent shot. UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE. RELIEF WORKS PROPOSED. A meeting of the Unemployment Committee was held in the the Labour Department yesterday afternoon", when there were " present the Mayor (Mr H.. Holland, chairman), and Messrs H. B. Sorensen, F. W. Hobbs, F. Cooper, E. J. Howard, F. C. Ellis, H. B. Bower, aud T. L. Gibson. Tlie Mayor read a telegram which he had sent to the Premier, stating that each day, about 250 unemployed met outside the Christchurch City Council Chambers,, and asking if the Government could arrange that a subsidy be given to local bodies in order to enable them to put in hand relief works. In reply, he "liad received from the Premier a telegram stating that he had communicated with the Minister of Public Works. Mr Holland further said that any funds that were advanced should be allocated to various districts because of the likelihood of unemplo3 r ed workers coining into the cities in search of work, and suggested that means should be devised for preventing this. • Mr Bower, secretary of the local branch of the Labour Department, said that applications were, coming in from all over the district and the tendency was for country workers to come into the city and thus swell the numbers of the unemployed. Mr Sorensen said an influx from out-, side should be prevented. It should ;be made clear that -the., city could provide only for'its own necessitous-people. If there was widespread unemployment, then it, was a matter for the Government to deal with. -He considered the Government should give a pound for pound subsidy towards providing relief works.

Mr Holland suggested. that the construction of the zig-zag road to the heads as a work of public value that could be gone on with at once, and Mr Sorensen commended . the- suggestion, saying that it was probable that the road would have considerable military value. „ ■■

Mr Howard said that at present there ,were 269 names of unemployed registered on the books at the Trades Hall, arid most of these were local men who had been thrown out of work through the closing down of building operations. Mr Hobbs suggested. that the construction of the Waiau-Oulverden railway should be gone ; on with, but Mr Ellis pointed out that in the construction of a railroad money had to be' spent in materials, whereas in the construction of roads only labour would be required. - The Mayor's motion, that the committee send a message to the Premier, calling on the Government to subsidise local bodies for the provision of relief work, was carried. Another motion, that the Government be urged to put the work -jy£ constructing the Lyttelton-Sumner Road in hand at once, and also the construction of the Waiau-Culverden railway, was also earned. •

Mr Hobbs moved that, i' As' a nieans of alleviating some of the present unemployment, this meeting suggests to the committee of the Patriotic Fund that it should offer to advance to the Government, on Treasury Bills maturing in twelve months, an amount of £6OOO, on condition and for the purpose of immediately erecting ten or more workers' homes in Christchureh or surrounding suburban districts. Mr Hobbs pointed out that the money for the War Provident Fund would not be required for at least six months, and the money could not be used for a better purpose in the meantime. ' The motion was discussed with approval and carried. A deputation representing the local unemployed stated that unemployment was increasing in the city, and asked the committee to provide means of relief.

Mr. Holland informed the deputation of the committee's intention to approach the Government and asked if the works proposed in the resolutions passed would not meet the case.

The deputation expressed its approval of the suggestions made to the Government as embodying its own wishes and withdrew.

Mr Ellis's proposal that the Mayoi*should convene a conference of representatives of the City Council and local bodies with the idea of formulating a scheme for providing employment, was approved.

With regard to short time' employment, Mr Hobbs proposed that where the conditions of trade necessitated a reduction on the pay-sheet this meeting asks the employers, instead of discharging hands, to reduce the working hours so that only partial unemployment may result and the lost time be spread over the many instead of falling wholly on the few. The motion was carried.

Mr Ellis objected that reduction of hours of employment and therefore of pay, would act both ways, inasmuch as if the worker got less money the butcher, baker, and .storekeeper would sell less, and therefore get less. He also protested that the workers who could not afford to feel the pinch were being exploited by the general rise in the price of commodities'.

Mr Hobbs pointed out that the .Ministry was already being approached by members of Parliament, asking that exploitation of any sort should be prevented and demanding the remission of duty on imported grain. Mr Bower read a letter offering the use of a field for the cultivation of foodstuffs, and Mr Holland remarked that similar offers had been made, but up to the present no advantage had been taken of them. After a general

discussion on the possibilities of such a scheme, it was decided to adjourn the matter for further discussion at a meeting to be heli at 4: o'clock next Friday aftaruoon.

As a result of the decision made by the Unemployment Committee yesterday afternoon, the Mayor has sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister: "The Unemployment Committee , strongly urge the Government to grant a pound for pound subsidy to local authorities, to provide special works for the unemployed, and also urges the Government to proceed with the construction of the Sumner-Lyttelton road. This road is of incalculable value for defence purposes. The construction of the road to Godley Head Lighthouse is also urged, and the Waiau-Culverden railway should be vigorously proceeded with. The Mayor is also calling a meeting of the chairmen and Mayors of local bodies for 3 o'clock on Monday next, in order to consider the question of unemployment. , . • WAIPARA COUNTY. empireldefence fund. * The following additional subscriptions have been received for the above fund:—R. Watson £2, D. Gordon 7/6, Dorothy Thompson 6d, D. Leary 15/-, making a.total of £475 10/- received to date. , STATE WARRANTS. FOR BONDED PRODUCE. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. A proposal of aii important character was made to-jdayiat the conference be? 'tween the Farhlers' Union and other bodies. , Mr L. C. Gardiner, representing the Sheep-owners' Union,;• • p6iirted ? ;but! that the future held many possibilities in regard to the disposal of farmers' produce. If the trade routes were kept open, ihe positiou would be quite satisfactory. If they were not kept open, a very considerable quantity of produce would have to be stored. If the farmers J could not draw, on their produce, the_ position would soon become acute, par-' tieularly in regard to unemployment. He moved— .■ ' „

That this meeting represent to the Government, that, before proroguing, the Government should take steps to acquire authority to grant warrants, guaranteeing tWothirds of the value of producers' stored goods, which would become, similar to bonded goods; these warrants would be discounted by financial houses. .'•.■■■ ; It was on the suggestion of Mr R. Evans-that the word ■'.' producers" was inserted, the- idea being that ■the farmers, the primary, producers, should be protected from exploitation. < ; The motion was carried. •