MAORI MANPOWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 40, 19 January 1943, Page 5

MAORI MANPOWER

NECESSITY FOR REGISTRATION

WORK OF LOCAL COMMITTEES

Further publicity is required for the purpose of giving wider scope to ,the recent enactment whereby all male Maoris must now ta/ke the necessary steps to register. A tribal committee called the Ngatiawa Tribal Committee lias been formed in this district embracing the sub-tribes of Ngati-Pukeko of Poroporo, Pabou and Rewatu, NgatiHokopu of Whakatane, Puapua and Piripai and the Patuwai and Taiwhakaea sub-tribes of Paroa and Pupuaruhe. These sub-tribes arc resident principal\y within the Omataroa Riding of the Whakatane County as well as the Whakatane Borough. The sub-tribes living' within the Rangitaiki and Tarawcra Ridings have their own separate committee, as also have the Tuhoe sub-tribes of Ruatoki, Waimana and surrounding areas known as the Tuhoe territories. Other districts throughout New Zealand are served by similar Tribal Committees. Governmental mandates have conferred upon these committees. Maoris are aware of the liability for registration. Under the circumstances it is essential that an extension of time should be allowed for the registration of Maoris. However, the committee has done the next, best thing in that they have compiled a full list of the man power within their district, showing 'list of names: of servicemen overseas, in military camps, in Home Guards, in essential works, in E.P.S. and volunteers for military service waiting to be calle.d up Jiicr proceed to camps. These lists were compiled openly and have gone forward to headquarters in control of these committee-s, which show that although there is delay in the completion of registrations, there is no desire on the part of the Maori people of this district to shirk their war effort responsibilities. As a matter of policy much of. the activities of the committee cannot be published, suffice it to say that they are going ahead steadily and satisfactorily.