MAORI WAR EFFORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22493, 30 January 1943, Page 5

MAORI WAR EFFORT

Valuable Contribution

(N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. The Minister in Charge of the Maori War Effort, the Hon. P. K. Paikea, in reviewing the work accomplished by the Maori War Effort Organisation in the six months since its formation, announced that the continuation of the organisation for a further three months from February 1 had been approved by the War Cabinet. Mr Paikea said that 356 Tribal and Executive Committees had been established and it was a revolutionary experience for the Maori people to be given some form of control. Many difficulties were encountered at the outset owing to the characteristic lack of confidence arising from the past and historic experiences. Personal contact, however, and definite assurances from the Government that no Maori would be conscripted, together with an assurance of the position of leadership brought about a wave of war effort enthusiasm among the people. The Minister listed the following achievements of the Organisation to date: 10.825 men in essential industries, 4844 Territorials for service within and beyond New Zealand, 2049 enlisted Territorials for service in New Zealand only, 9875 men in the Home Guard, total 16,759, and with those engaged in defence forces a grand total of 27.584. Functions Widened Mr Paikea said as the war progressed the functions and duties of the Organisation were widened out to embrace the control and direction of all Maori manpower in essential industries, in the co-operation of district Manpower Officers and in the increased production of potatoes, kumeras, maize and green vegetables which had been organised and operated, not only as individual projects, but as tribal projects. Other matters occupying the attention of recruiting officers and Tribal and Executive Committees were: (1) Personal contact with employers of Maoris; (2) Prevention of absenteeism and dealing with cases of absenteeism; (3) The reception and guidance of men returned from overseas; (4) Matters pertinent to rehabilitation; (5> The approach to the problem of social changes among tile Maoris, and <6, Intel-mediate duties of an assorted and often complex nature.

■■Regarding many outstanding claims and grievances, the Maori people generally speaking, have decided to allow these to remain in abeyance till more propitious times,” Mr Paikea concluded. “In any case at the present time their thoughts, generally speaking, directed on one thing only, and that is the war efloi-l."