THE MAORI FORCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144778, 7 September 1915, Page 3

THE MAORI FORCE.

REINFORCEMENTS LEAVING.' PER PBKS3 ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Sept.-. 6. The Maori Reinforcements now under training at Auckland will leave for the front this month, and it has been arranged that they shall embark from Wellington. The Minister of Defence, mentioning this matter to-day, said ha would hare been very glad to have allowed the Maoris to join the transport at Auckland, but they had expressed a wish to be brought to Wellington, and their request had beon-sup-ported by the representatives of the Native race in Parliament. The men would come to Wellington hy tram. Arrangements are being made for * send-off to the Maoris on the day of their, departure from Wellington. Thor© will be two functions, the first a gathering at which Ministers and prominent citizens will ho present, and the second a purely Native ceremony. The chiefs wish ' to have » last word with the fighting men of their race before their departure for Gallipoli, and the Mayor has' consented to let them have the use of the Town Hall for the occasion. “Wo are going to continue sending Maori reinforcements,” said the Defence Minister. “The next draft will go into camp when the men at present under training have left. It will include drafts of Natives from Rarotonga and Nione, between 150 and 250 strong. These men are very anxious to bo given .a chance to serve with the other soldiers of the Empire, and they have received elementary training .already The Maoris will make up the balance, Winging. the total strength 'of the force to about 350 men. That will be the third Maori reinforcement. As for the fourth reinforcement, 1 shall be very glad to hear that the Waikatos will undertake to find the men wanted for .that draft.