MAORIS AND CONSCRIPTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 5

MAORIS AND CONSCRIPTION

CHIEFS DISCUSS THE POSITION. By Telegraph—Press Association. \ Auckland, July 4. ' ■ A meeting of Chiefs representing the Waikato, Ngatimaru, .. Ngapuhi, and Ngati Paoa tribes, was held to-night to discuss the proposed. conscription of Jlaoris. Although no resolution was passed, the majority were in favour of tho proposal. It was decided to hold a representative meeting of all tribes at Jlorrinsville on September. 14, and to request the Government to withhold decision nntil after that date. .

At present friendly societies have si somewhat unwieldly method of collecting levies for funeral, benefits, and a year ago they asked the Actuary of tho Friendly Societies' Department to provide them with a more simple way of arriving at tho amount to be paid by.all the branches. The' office has already prepared an actuarial table, but a deadlock has occurred within tho Department which ie preventing tho rcleaso of this table. A deputation . representing the Manchester Unity, New Zealand branch of tho Oddfollows, waited upon the Minister (tho Honi J. A. Ilanan) last evening to urge him to hasten such eteps as might be necessary to .release the tables, urging that these were very much desired by the societies. Tho discussion concerned in some measure the professional reputation of an officer of tho Department. The Minister of [Defence etatod in the House yesterday that he does not propose to raise the age of military service unSer the Military Service Act from 20 to 22 years. No such idea has erer been entertained in Wellington, but the fact Hiat tho menibnr for 'Wallace asked a question nil this point, which seemed to show that 6omo such idea is current in othar. fl.ar.tfl Pi N®JSgalaiul! ,