THE PIONEER BATTALION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3111, 15 June 1917, Page 5

THE PIONEER BATTALION

MAORIS TO COME UNDER THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT. By Telegraph—Press Association.. Auckland, Juno 11. "The question of extending the provisions of tho Military Service Act to Maoris under tho authority of Section. 50, in order to provide tho reinforcements necessary to maintain tho Pioneer Battalion at full strength, has been under consideration for some time," said Sir James Allen to-day. "Voluntary recruiting is not now producing the men. required, and tho need for selection by ballot has been hastened by reason of the fact that while the Maoris in most I districts have responded splendidly to tho call to service, the tribes in one district have practically sent no men to tho front.. Acting on tho recommendation of the Recruiting Board, Cabinet hqs now decided to extend the provisions of tho Military Service Act to Maoris, and in accordance with this decision the Government Statistician has been instructed to proceed with tho. work of preparing for tho enrolment of the Maori Expeditionary Force Reserve. It is proposed to divide tho North Island into six Maori recruiting districts, the boundaries of which will coincide as far as practicable with the boundaries of the present Maori land districts. It is anticipated that this preliminary work will bo sufficiently advanced to enable the proclamation required by statute to be gazetted in about a fortnight. In view of the position that has arisen in connection with voluntas recruiting, it is quite possible that as Minister for Defence I may, in tho exercise of the powers conferred on mo by the issue of the proclamation under Section 50 of the Act, authorise the calling up of Maoris from any one recruiting district, to the exclusion of others. No definite decision has yet been arrived at on this point."

Tho proclamation does not affect the South Island, as few eligible Maoris are there.