MAORIS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 2

MAORIS AND THE WAR

DEPLETION 1 OF THE BEST MANt HOOD. . • « By Telegraph—Press Association.. Pahiatua, October 4. In tlie course of a. patriotic address at the sacred concert by the Hinemoa Opera Company, 'tlio Bev. F. Bennett, a prominent Native clergyman, referred to the patriotism of . the Maori people, and mentioned that out of a mere hand- ' fid of Maoris they had already sent over 800 of the'very best. As tlie 'Government had expressed a wisli that reinforcements to the number of 240 should be sent every "two months, it could be seen that the. Maori people were certainly going to do their "little bit" in the Empire's hour of need. Elderly Natives of various tribes, especially.in tlio East Coast electorate, had sent over 1000 frozen sheep and over £1000 for the destitute in the Motherland, in addition to what they had done for local funds. '

Mr. Bennett feelingly asked:.ls there to he no limit fixed as to the number of Maoris who will be accepted for the front? There is not the slightest doubt that the Maori as a race is a, dying one. The process, of absorption is going on so rapidly that in another ■ generation or two it will ,bo very, difficult to find a pure Maori, but the proportion of the best Maori! manhood now being accepted for '.the front is so high that'l for one would be glad if the Government would make the limit, say, 1000 men, and not ask for any more reinforcements unless the situation became very critical. How is the. race to be p'erpetuated if "the best Maori manhood is to bo sent in such large proportions to'the front? A. thousand men out of a total population of,less than 50,000 men, women, and children is a .high proportion." .

Mr. Bennett explained this was his' own personal conviction ouly, and did not emanate . from the Maori people: they probably woyld be willing to send their last man to the field of battle if tlie circumstances demanded it.

He asked:'."Are we prepared to hasten tlie extinction of the race by sending forth unlimited numbers, of the progenitors of the Maori people of the future? Tlie matter is sufficiently. seri r mis to demand the very careful consideratio'n on the part of the people of the Dominion.": .