NEW ZEALAND'S PART

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2454, 6 May 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

SECOND MAORI FORCE LATEST ADVICE FROM DARDANELLES MR. MASSEY IN THE NORTH THE CALL FOR MEN <Hy Telegraph.—Press Association.) Otorohanga, May 6. A number of matters connected with the war were referred to by the l'rime Minister in liis speech in opening the now municipal hall here to-day. 11l replying to the publio address of welcome outside the hall, Mr. Massey said that he especially desired to thank the Natives who had taken part in tho enthusiastic welcome to him that day. When lie noticed the part taken in tho proceedings by their Native friends, ho was reminded of the Maori Contingent that New Zealand had sent to the other side of the world to take part in fighting the battles of tho Empire there. (Applause.) The 500 men or thereabouts that they had sent away had created a very favourable impression, not only in Now Zealand before departing, but also on lauding in Egypt, where they took their place among the other troops of the Empire. _ (Applause.) "The Maori Contingent is now doing garrison duty at Malta," continued Mr. Massey, "but I predict that tliey will soon ba given an opportunity to distinguish themselves in the same way as that in which their pakeha brethren have distinguished tlieniselces during the past few days. (Cheers.) "When that time comes, I feel absolutely certain that they will give just as good an account of themselves as we might expect from the descendants of their fighting ancestors. (Cheers.) I may follow -up these remarks by telling you that the impression created by the Maoris on the great men of the Army has been so good that more soldiers of our Native race are wanted. (Hear, hear.) We shall therefore be asking within the next few days or few weeks for another contingent from the Maori race. (Cheers.) I hope

that many of the young Maori men whom I now see before me will be included in that contingent." (Hear, hear.)

DARDANELLES CASUALTIES.

REASON FOR DELAY IN LISTS.

Speaking in regard to the woiuided casualties at the Dardanelles, to-night, Mr. Massey said that the new 6 that had been received on the previous day had brought sorrow to many homes in the Dominion, but it was sorrow mingled with pride at the part that our men wore taking, and pride in the fact that they were doing so well. (Applause.) Right throughout New Zealand, as in other parts of the Empire, ho continued, there was a determination to see the war through to its very end, and to secure a victory whatever it might cost. (Cheers.) l'le referred to the many evidences of German frightt'ulne6s_ and brutality that had occurred during the war, as giving an idea of how we- should be governed if by any chanco—lie did not. think there was the slightest chance —Germany was victorious. The idea was unthinkable, but ho asked them to reflect how much we owed to-day to the courage of our soldiers, the determination of our citizens, and the foresight of the men who controlled the destinies of the Empire. (Applause.)

In alluding.to the necessity for more men, the Prime Minister said that he appealed to the manhood of the country, to those who were not kept at home by family ties or duties,, and there j were thousands of such, to register . their names so that when they were I called upon they might bo ready to go into camp to train for, playing their | part in the defence of the Empire. (Hear, hear.) , Further reference to the war was J made by Sin Massey in responding to 7 the toast of his health at the subsej quent luncheon in the new hall. He re- , ferred to tho anxiety that had prevailed ' in regard to the absence of a complete [ list of the casualties at the Dardanelles. In regard to ihis matter he had just, j received the following cablegram from tho officer in* charge of the New Zealand Records Offico at Alexandria:— "Everything possible is being done to prepare correct lists of the killed and wounded. You can understand that whero so many names \ are involved great care is necessary .in verifying before cabling. - Only a few particulars as to the killed have been jot received. We are working at high pressure." They might rely on it, Mr. Massey said, that the missing details would be supplied at the earliest possible moment. FURTHER FICHTING. PRIME MINISTER'S LATEST ADVICES. Mr. Massey said that he had also received another cablegram, which indicated that further fighting had taken place at the Dardanelles on Sunday and Monday, and that our troops had assumed the offensive and wore making successful advances in the Gallipoli Peninsula. This announcement was received.with loud applause and cheers, followed by three ringing cheers for the Now Zealand soldiers and the singing of "Soldiers of tue King." Mr. Massey said that this evidently meant another fight and anotlior victory for the New Zeaianders and Australians, and another victory for the Empire. (Cheers.) NEW ZEALAND'S PART. ANOTHER EXTRA FORCE POSSIBLE In referring to the part that New Zealand was doing in tho war, he 6aid that this Dominion was the first to have an offer of troops accepted by tho Old Country. \Xe were the lirst Domin« ion to send troops away, and our troops were the first to take possession of German territory, Samoa, which ho heped would remain British for all time. (Hear, hear.) Including the men sent to Samoa and tho Jlaori Contingent, wo had sent awa.v from this little country no fewer than seventeen thousand men on active service. (Applause.) This 1 number also included about 250 New ! Zeaianders who were in Britain when the war broke out. j

New Zealand, lie wont on to say, was also doing its part in regard to providing nurses. Wo lincl sent away fifty muses, besides providing 12 for the Commonwealth, this making a total of 62. (Applause.) There wero now in camp at Trcntham approximately 5000 men, and another two thousand wore reouircd to go into camp almost at once. Tho men weru now coming in at tho raio of about a thousand pc.r we^k—(applause)—and it would not 1)« !'iug hofore lhey cot the number at present required.' He, however, did not know how many would bo required in futuvs. He referred in Mi* swptimi-r by (lie Imperial Rot. jp* (w .«)

infantry force from Now Zealand. Tho whole of 500 artillerymen were now in camp, and it was expected that the infautrymon of this 'special force, about 2750 in all, ivouid bo in camp within tho next few weeks. He was not permitted to mention dates, but judging by present appearances it would not be long before wo would have 25,000 men at tho front. (Applause.) No ono could tell how long tho war might last, and it might happen tliat New Zealand would .yet be callcd upon to provide another 2500 men. If so, he believed that they would be fortEcoming. (Applause.) This country, had done particularly well during tho Boer AVar, but during the present war it had doubly risen to tho occasion, for more mon had been sont away in the prcsont Expeditionary Force "than were comprised in tho whole of tbe South African contingents at that time. Also the Imperial Government bore the expense of the contingents, but this timo New Zealand had taken upon herself the whole cost of her sliare of tlio Empire's burden. Every penny of the oxponditure connected with the assistance that we were giving to the Empire was being bome by tile people in New Zealand, and ho believed -that this course was approved by 999 out of everv thousand of the population of the country. (Applauso and hoar, hear.) The toasts which were honoured at tho luncheon included that of "Our Boys at tho Front," proposed by Mr. J_. Boclclie, the retiring Mayor of Te Kuiti, and responded to by Mr. T. E. Cot-kill, of the Bank of New Zealand. The toast was honoured with the utmost enthusiasm, accompanied by cheers and the singing of tho "Red, White, and Blue."