MAORI RECRUITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 6

MAORI RECRUITS

OVER 250 TO TO-DAY POVERTY BAY RESPONSE INTEREST GROWS DAILY LEADERS BEING SELECTED Up to noon to-day. enlistments of natives of the Gisborne, Wairoa and East Coast areas for the special Maori battalion, to serve at home or abroad during the war, numbered more than 250, taking into account those who had previously volunteered in the general forces and who had not yet tiled their special applications for enrolment with the Maoris. Those in charge of the recruiting movement in the district are well pleased with the response, which has shown once again the-value placed on tribal traditions by the native people of this coast, and the strong attachment they have developed for the democratic forms of Government observed within the Empire. Veterans of the Maori Pioneer Battalion who served in the Great War are still coming forward with the younger men, and it seems likely that n leavening of the veterans will be welcomed'by those who will have charge of the new battalion’s training.

Many of these old soldiers have taken part in voluntary parades on the maraes of several native settlements during the past fortnight, and have helped to put the volunteers for the new force through the rudimentary phases of barrack-square drill. Old Times on, the Marac One well-known East Coast Maori, with a long record of service and the rank of warrant officer, has taken particular pride in the work of his volunteer detachment. He has followed closely upon the rules laid down in the old infantry manuals for the early stages of recruit training, and is now ready to go forward a little beyond the rudimentary infantry movements. He was in town this week trying to secure information as to how the new “threes formation” can be worked into his schedule. There is a flavour of the old times about the maraes in these days, when the young men of the tribes gather to put themselves under instructors. They are disciplined in the ranks entirely by their own keenness, and by the regard of the elders who watch the work going on with reminiscent eye.

Most of the young men took up the voluntary training as a diversion, but where cigarettes were smoked on parade, and jocular remarks exchanged with onlookers at one stage of the movement, there is now a far more strict regard for the code of the soldier. Those who pass into the Maori Battalion camp from these maraes will have learned the first lesions of soldiering, and they will have a substantial advantage over those coming from settlements which have not promoted their marae drill-squads.

Appointments for Battalion It is understood that recommendations from district recruiting officers for commissions and stripes are to be considered by the Army authorities, and that these recommendations are being prepared now. The announcement of appointments will be awaited with the keenest interest by almost every native along the Coast. The latest list of Maori volunteers enrolled at Gisborne is as follows: Anderson, Kare, married, 28 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Arapete, Te-Iho-o-te Rangi, married, 22 years, Gisborne, labourer.

Atarau, Ere, single, 22 years, Waiohau, labourer.

Babbington, Oliver, married, 32 years, Hautanoa, Tokomaru Bay, labourer.

Brown, Hauraki Akubata, single, 29 years, Whangara, farm worker. Carroll, Toki, widower, 28 years, Wairoa, station manager. Chesley, Mold Tauwhai, single, 32 years, Hicks Bay, station hand. Crawford, Hunier, married, 35 years, Tolaga Bay, shearer.

Crawford, Karu, single, Mangatuna, labourer.

Ereatara, Te Whetu, single, 21 years, Ruatoki, labourer.

Ehau, Bones, married, 23 years, Ruatoki, labourer.

Erueti, Wiremu, married, 35 years, Ruattoki, labourer. Ferris, Hirinu Te Kani, married, 45 years, Gisborne, fanner. Haapu, Darkie, single, 21 years, Whangara, labourer. Haenga, Jerry, single, 22 years, Ruatoria, labourer.

Hare, Nam, single, 34 years, Waiohau, labourer. Te Hau, Pita, single, 27 years, Muriwai, scheme worker.

Te Hau, Whairiri, single, 22 years, Muriwai, scheme worker.

Hauiti, Pomare, single, 21 years, Hicks Bay’, shepherd.

Hamvai, Whareharekeke, single, 24 years, labourer.

I-lawera, Himi Kupai, single, 29 years, Ruatoki, labourer.

Hawkins, Billie, single, 21 years, Wairoa, labourer.

Hinaki, Paranihi married, 43 years, Whangara, wool-classer

Hinaka, Pera, married, 30 years, Whangara, shepherd.

Horua, Tamati, single, 30 years, Tokomaru Bay, labourer.

Huaki, Pani, widower, 30 years, Tolaga Bay, driver. Huwai, Te Oraite, married, 30 years, Waitakaro, labourer.

Ilutana, Te Otene, single, 41 years. Tokomaru Bay, labourer.

Kingi, Raina, single, 21 years, Torerc, labourer.

Kingi, Rauicra, single, 34 years, Whangara, station hand.

Kingi, Wi, married, 30 years, Tolaga Bay, shearer. KingOViremu te Kohakitu, single. 29 years, Waihirere, labourer. Kirk, Thomas, married, 24 years, Tolaga Bay, labourer.

Korau, Mae, widower, 42 years Tolaga Bay, labourer.

McCauley, Hepi Wire, single, 24 years, Waiohau, labourer. Mahaki, Tuhoe, single, 22 years. Ruatoki, labourer.

Marino, George, single, 24 years. Tolaga Bay, labourer.

Maxwell, Ropata Wharehaun, single 21 years, Torero, labourer.

Mitchell, Henry, single, 24 years, Wairoa, shepherd.

Morrell, Kahungunu, single, 26 years, Frasertown, labourer. Mulligan, Edward Thomas, single, 24 years, Tokomaru Bay, labourer. Patiki, Ngatoko, single, 25 years. Ruatoria, labourer.

Penfold, John Mason, married, 43 years, Ruatoria, farmer.

Pcrrett, John Douglas, .Jsingle, 24 years, Wai-o-matatini, farmer.

Pirini, Waaka, single, 21 years, Rua* toria, labourer, Pohatu, Mataiata Bartlett, single, 21 years, Muriwai, scheme worker. Pokai, Timi Hore, single, 24 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Pouika, Koti, single, 22 years, Ruatoki, labourei - . Poutu, Henare, single, 22 years, Hicks Bay, station hand. Pomvhare, Reremoana, married, 22 years labourer. Te Purei, Tuakaua, single, 22 years, Ruatoria, labourer. Rangi, Renata Numia, single. 26 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Rangi, Wiremu Tatara, single, 22 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Raroa, Hori Winika, married, 26 years, Tolaga Bay, labourer. Reedy, Hanara Teohaki, married, 36 years, Ruatoria, farmer. R'ihimona, Tame, married, 21 years, Torere, labourer. Rikiriki, Nika, single, 23 years, Wagohau, labourer. Ropitini, Moka, single, 29 years, Manutuke, shearer. Rua, Paora, single, 26 years, Waiohau, labourer. Tawhara, Timi, 26 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Thompson, Julian Hurari, married, 29 years, Whangara, station worker. Tihi, Pe, single, 27 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Tipene, Sydney, single, 43 years, Whatatutu, roadman.

Tipoki, Kim, single, 30 years, Wairoa, farmer.

Tloroa, [Hone Te Rito, single, 21 years, Muriwai, scheme worker. Tuhiwai, James, single, 29 years, Tolaga Bay, shopman.

Tuhou, Manawa, widower, 34 years Ruatoria, labourer.

Tupe, Ngahooro, single, 26 years, Waiohau, labourer.

Tupe, Turanga, single, 22 years, Waiohau, labourer* Turei, Hoani, single, 221 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Uatuku, Pene, widower. 30 years, Ruatoki, labourer. VVaerea, Mahuika, single, 22 years, Nuhaka, carpenter. Warihi, Matuhara, single, 25 years, Ruatoria, labourer.

Watene, Wharetapu, single, 24 years, Ruatoki, labourer. Harrison, Hekiera, single, 26 years, Ruatoria. labourer.