MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2586, 7 October 1915, Page 6

MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

MAORI PASTOR'S CRITIOISir.

The remarks made recently at Pahiatua by the Rov. Mr. Bennett, the Maori pastor from Hotorua, about the drain imposed on the Maori manhood - of the country by the need of keeping up the Maori reinforcements, were referred to in the House yesterday afternoon by ?iF-. Pe&rce. He asked t'ho. Prime Minister whether Mr. Bennett was not, discouraging recruiting, and thereby committing a breach of tho law. ' The Prime Minister said that ho had. not taken notice of what Mr. Bennett said with a view of taking action of any kind. Ho did not think that the speech would discourage the Maoris from tak-', nig advantage of a privilege they valued highly,'that of serving tho Empire in this war.

"I am sure," said Mr. T. Parata, ''that the feeling of tho Maoris in this country is that'so long as'the Empire is covered with tho cloud of war they, are prepared to do their part.,; (Hear, hear.) I believo that if tho last Maoris have to go to theVar on behalf of the Empire under whose benign! laws . they were proud to' live, they will go to the last man. (Hoar, hear.)' I trust that the House' and. the country will not accept tho utteraucea of any one man :as representing tho foel-i ings of the Maori peopto of this Dominion." . 1 .. .