MAORI BATTALION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 117, 14 November 1939, Page 7

MAORI BATTALION

FINDING OFFICERS

INSTRUCTION AJ TRENTHAM

(GAMP TO START IN .'■'■.■. JANUARY;': v- :

Recruiting for the Maori battalion i« to continue until further notice,'and the main body of the battalion will \ not go into camp until about Januarys said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) last night, when explaining the arrangements for the selection ojt n.c.o.s and officers for the battalion. At the end of October enlistmentsjm the battalion totalled 963, comprised of 626 from the Northern Military District, 318 from the Central Military District, and 19 from the Southern Military District. "To ensure that there will be an ample number of recruits available to \* complete the battalion and its early reinforcements, and to give a" large number of shearers and other seasonal workers the opportunity'of answering the call to arms," said Mr % bones,- "ft has been decided that recruiting .is to continue till further notice,'and that the main body of the battaliotf will not go into camp till about January next. It is essential that there should be a sufficient number of welf-trained officers and n.c.o.s available to undertake the training of the battalion when it is formed. "There are only four Maori officers serving in the Territorial Force, and as nearly all the officers who served in the Maori Pioneer Battalion • during the Great War are no\p well over the age laid down for active service officers, practically a full comple- vy, ment of officers will have to be appointed and trained. To help with this work it will be necessary to employ a / small number of European Regular " * ! and Territorial officers and n.c.o.s^ • "The position as regards n.c.o.S'is a little better, as there are a number, of - Maoris already serving in the Special i Force who have had several years' training in the Territorial Force, and N ' many of these have passed through secondary school cadets and gained l k non-commissioned rank. It has been found that by restricting enlistment to single men a number of promising'cari- ~>- didates for commissioned and non-com- r v ' missioned rank have been debarred & from enlisting, so it has been decided .* to open recruiting to married men 4 with not more than two children, but these men must be between the age» of 21 and 35 inclusive. v , ; MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. , "Medical examinations are now being ,' held at various centres where t re- \ cruits will be concentrated ' ior the purpose. Men who have to travel any distance will be provided with travel- y ling warrants. Where it will be W cheaper for medical boards to travel f ~ s to outlying centres this will- be' ar- * ranged. When the medical examinations have been c6mpleted, and so as to maintain a representation of tribes among the officers and n.co.s,, area officers have been instructed, to,, forward to Army Headquarters a report <, on men who are considered suitable ( for training as officers and n.c.o.s. "Arrangements have also been mada * for Major G. Dittmer, M.8.E.", M.C., New Zealand Staff Corps, to visit all mobilisation camps for the purpose of ) selecting, from the Maoris ■ now.w camp with the Special Force and^wllO have expressed a wish to be- trans- *■ ferred to the Maori Battalion, suitable candidates as prospective officers and n.c.o.s. There are approximately 50 „ Maoris in camp with the Special Force * who have signified their desire to join the Maori Battalion. * ( "It is expected that about 100 prospective officers and n.c.o,s will be obtamed in this way, and these men will „-> be taken into the Army-School at >, Trentham on November 25 to undergo \ a special course* of instruction. "These arrangements should 'produce from 60 to 75 per cent, of the ,\ total number of officers and n.c.o.s required, and by the time the mam *-; body arrives in camp these_men, who ; will then have completed two months* training, will be acquainted with ail > their duties'and be able to take in ,^ hand the organisation~~and training cl c their sub-units with confidence. Tha f; balance need to complete the esteb- < t lishment will be selected from tha main body, when it assembles. This latter provision will permit of the pro- -^ motion from the ranks of men who prove themselves during training. "It is also proposed to select from the men now in camp suitable menuto be trained at the Army School as cooks * for the battalion. "Registration and attestation. forms •<■ have been printed in the Maori language," said the Minister. "When" re- f cruits are being attested, attesting offi- t cers will be assisted by a ,Maon registration officer or other competent per- -« son who will explain to recruits th« *; terms of enlistment."