EVENTS IN N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 6

EVENTS IN N.Z.

MAORI EXPEDITIONARY FORCE SOUTHERN CONTINGENT ARRIVES . WELCOME BY THE PRIME MINISTER ■ There arrived in Wellington bv the ' Wahiiie yesterday morning tho South Island contingent of tho Maori Expeditionary Force. The: contingent was mot and welcomed by Mr. C. Parata, M.P. for tho Southern Maori electorate. The body is 50 strong, and the . men are of a particularly fine stamp. They wore taken to Parliament Buildings, where they wore greeted very heartily by tho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey). Addressing tho troopers, Mr. Massey said that ho was sure that the representatives of tho Native race would be a credit to New Zealand. The members of tho contingent represented a great fighting race. Ho hoped ' that thev would have a- good time both on the voyage and when they arrived at their destination. They must'subject themselves to discipline. No man could bo a good soldier unless ho had learned to' obey the orders of his officers. The Government did not wish to have over the Maoris officers of any other race, and ho hoped that in a few years the Maori soldiers of tho Empire would bo 'commanded by Maori officers as efficient as officers of tho British race. The Empire was now facing the greatest crisis in its history. When they were fighting for tho Empire they were fighting for New Zealand. If Britain did not win— we wero all certain she would—the German flag, instead of the British flag, would fly over New Zealand and. Australia. (Cries of "No!") We had all been born under the British flag, and we would all do our utmost to ensure that wo died under it, a 6 we would be proud to do.

Mr. Mas,sey added that he knew the ■ place in Auckland whore the Maori troops were going to camp, but he could not say whether they were going to cmbark from tho northern port or from Wellington. In any case, ho hoped to see -thorn' again before they sailed, and for that reason he would not 6ay "Goodbye." . ■ Mr. Parata thanked the Prime Minister for his reception of the troops. He hoped that they would be all good disciplinarians,- and that they would do what their officers told them to do. If they did that, they would turn out real good men. All the Natives of the country would then be proud of them. All their people would look to their doings wherever they were sent. They were going forth to do battle, not only for themselves and their own people, but for all those who lived under the Union Jack. (Cheers.) , j The contingent left for Auckland by the evening train. (By TfileEraph-Prees Association.) Wairoa, October 17. ' About. 400 Maoris last night &>©.' welled the local Native contingent. Tho Rev. Wepiha, the chaplain, who oonjes of a .great fighting stock, drilled the men, after which, a patriotic speech was made by Ihaka Whaanga, a local chief of Rakaipaaka, who fought for the Queen in the seventies. The troops leave on Monday. They are a fine lot, and look fit. Dunedin, October I*. , About twenty Maoris from Otago and Southland left for tho north .this morning, under' Mr. It. J.,Danscy, tke.TJni vorsity and Otago Rugby'represenTaitva footballer, en route to Auckland to jolthe Maori contingent.