RECALCITRANT WAIKATO MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 8

RECALCITRANT WAIKATO MAORIS

SENTENCED TO TWO YEAItS , IMPRISONMENT.

The findings of the court-martial which tried six AYaikato Maoris for refusing to obey the order of an officer to wear uniforms were promulgated at a muster .parade of 400 of all ranks in Narrow Neck Camp on Saturday morning. Each of the offenders was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. This military ceremony, the "New Zealand Herald" slates, was one to fill the onlooker with pride and sorrow—pride in the flue soldierly-bearing and patriotism of the members of the four native races under nrms, and sorrow in the fnct that men of one section of thc> Maoris should bring' disgrace upon their name in the presence of thsiv brothers. The contrasts presented were marked ami pathetic. The soldiers had been drilling in squads on the square, and with heads erect, eyes shining witli obvious pleasure in_ the work and soldierly pride displayed in their bearing, the jnnn sprang at the word nf command like veterans. Some of the work was jwr-1 ffft. for precision. Everyfihns—the shining bayonets, well-kept rifles, clearshnven fneps, and neat dress—spn]s« of prPiipro.l efficiency. At n. command from an officer the snuads wr« formed up in a t'>rw-sidc<l square. Then cainc t!ie contrast. The six men for sentence, were lunrnhed in ,, " Hip sr/uarc under a" armed guard. The sliirdv wel'-tvainrd .iimearinc" of the irnnrd c uir<iesf , ' , d t'"» Tn-rJi-'.n fiiirHa.s, viHi whom *lio Maori force fought on finlUpoli. '''he prisoners, who, had IW to ''vili. pii<rl< ( : linro re?"m ,o fd |!'« s"Vl''»rs, slouched alonir in the civilian clothes, iin miipli m f"iil the appearance of many youne Maori'. The prisoners were *hen ralM forward in him. and the adjutant. Lieutenant T. S. Birkbv. read each s»vten<"\ was afterwni-ds announced in Maori by Cnnhin J. H. Walker. . ' Tlie following mpinorandnm attached io the findings of the court-martial by CnWl G. AY. S. Pattevson. officer commanding the district, was then read and interpreted:— "It is with great regret that I. feel constrained to confirm the sentence of the court-martial. That the sentence is I just, and that it is necessary, there can be no doubt whatever. The position demanded that prompt and exemplary measures should be taken, and this has been done. But one cannot but regret the necessity of having to punish fheso men for bavin? followed a course of action which, though they know it. to bs wrong, was implanted in their minds by elders of their own tribe, who are nothing better than sedition-mongers. These Waikatos are descendants 'of a bravo and war-like people, equal in every way to the Ngapuhis, the Arawas, and other tribes who have volunteered and fought so well in the present war. The reputation gained by the Maori troops at the front is second to none, nml I never wished to eee.the day when it would be necessary to sentence a single member of their race. Their sentence will be promulgated to-day at a parade of the representative soldiers of practically every Maori tribe and. the kindred people.' of Karotonga, Fiji,' Tahiti, and the Gilbert Islands. I hope the seditious element in the Waikato I tribes will appreciate the fact that the result of their evil talk has been to degrade their tribesmen before pakeha and Maori alike. Unwilling as lam to put these young men in this position, yet stern necessity demands that it. shall be done. For the future, I trust that what has happened 10-day will not be lost upon all ranks of the Waikato tribes. Let the elders take notice that sedition will not be tolerated and the retribution will soon overtake them, Let the young men show that the Waikatos can be brave men and not taurekararokas, and that what the other tribes have done and are willing to do for the defence, of the Empire, they, the Wafyitos, can do and will do. In this way only can tho maun of tho Waikatos be restored." Inquiry among the Native soldiers in camp revealed a general attitude of hostility towards tho objecting AYaikatos, and'disgust at their action, which is considered' by tho men to reflect upon the loyalty of the whole Native race, '.i'lic unwillingness of the men to serve is supposed to have its origin in an ancient grievance of the Waikatos over tho confiscation of certain land, which was a punishment for rebellion.