P.B. RECRUITING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 6

P.B. RECRUITING

EUROPEANS TAPER OFF

MAORI FIGURES RISE

COAST LISTS RECEIVED

PIONEER OFFICERS ENROL

The stream of recuits from Gisborne for the Special New Zealand Military Force has tapered off markedly during the past few days, only a handful of enrolments having come forward since the early part of the week.

Maori recruiting, on the other hand seems to be still in full stride, and early lists received from settlements on the more remote part of the East Coast .indicate that the response among the'natives there is excellent It is known now that under the scheme drawn up by the Army' headquarters for the recruitment of a Maori battalion, for service at home or abroad as required, the Tairawhiti district, extending from Torere in the 3av of Plenty down to the Waira:apa, is to be expected to raise and maintain a company of 100 native soldiers and details numbering from 110 to 00.

The first groups are to be selected

rom among the fit single and married men, either without children or .vith one child, the authorities having •ecognised that many Maoris marry young, and that it will be extremely dfficult to fill the early quotas with,ut admitting men from the classe; vith the fewest marital responsibiliies.

So far as the Tairawhiti district it concerned, there is every indication hat the main body of the Maori force will get its full quota mainly from he single men’s class, and that if eteran officers are required for instruction and depot work, these will oe available.

Among the men who have volunteered during the past few days is one who has had an almost unbroken connection with military training for 24 years, and is still young enough to face camp life with a good prospect of withstanding its minor hardships. Men of mature ages are not being accepted for the time being, but many who served with the Pioneer Battalion n the Great War are holding them•elves in readiness to fill gaps in the new Maori force, should the chance be forthcoming.

Further lists of enrolments received at Gisborne are as under:— Special New Zealand Force Matthews, Ralph Henry, single, 26 years, Box 122, Wellington, clerk. Gordon, John Beattie, single. 22 years, 11 deLautour road, Gisborne, labourer. Gordon, Alex., single, 24 years, 11 deLautour road, Gisborne, grocer. Batson, George Arthur, married, 32 years, Patutahi, oil wells employee. New Zealand Maori Battalion Parata, Paani, single, 27 years, Te Puia, farmer. Kapua, Tini, married, 30 years, Te Puia, .farm manager. Taiapa, Rongomai, married, 30 years, Te Puia, shepherd. Mulligan, Allies Anzac, single, 23 years, Tokomaru B-ay, labourer. Karauria, Pango Rangi, single, 2? years, Tokomaru Bay, fencer. Gerrard, John, single, 21 years, Tikitiki, labourer.

Anaru, Paralene Tiweka, single, 29 years, Te Kaha, civil servant. Ngamoki, Apanui, single, 24 years, Omaio, via Opotiki, farm worker. Kemara, Umuariki, single, 24 years. Omaio, farm worker. Gage, Herewini, single, 24 years, Omaio, farm worker.

Titirangi, Ngaru, single. 22 years, Omaio, labourer.

Ngamoki, Hori, single, 21 years, Omaio, carpenter. Tipiwai, Haupiri, single, 30 years, Omaio, wagoner. Eparamia, Pua, single, 32 years, Manutuke, labourer.

R'aureti, Moanaroa, single, 22 years, Whakaki, labourer. Robin, Jack, single, 21 years, Te Araroa, scrub-cutter. Waipara, Manuawa-o -te . Rangi, single, 21 years, Manutuke, labourer. Te Halt, Kahutia, married, 43 years, Gisborne, farm supervisor. Tureia, Parekura, married, 42 years, Gisborne, clerk.

Kingi, Kani, single, 22 years, Torere, via Opotiki, farmer. Nau, Ngaoka, single, 21 years, Torere, labourer.

Mackay, Pera, single, 22 years, farm worker.

Maxwell, Wikamate, single, 21 years ; Torere, driver.

Ngatai, Mattngarongo, single, 22 years, Tikiliki, labourer. Ngata, Hori Mahue, single, 22 years, Ruatoria, driver.