MAORI BATTALION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 6 November 1939, Page 6

MAORI BATTALION

COMPANY OFFICERS INVITATION TO PAKEHAS STRONG NATIVE PROTEST FURTHER ENLISTMENTS Further reference to the possibility of European officers being appointed for company commands in the New Zealand Maori Battalion was made at a largely attended meeting held in Gisborne on Saturday, when it was decided to send to the member for the Eastern Maori electorate, Sir Apirana Ngata, a strong protest against what is regarded as a breach of faith with the native community.

It was emphasised that while objection was taken to the apparent intention of the Army Council to appoint European officers to the battalion in posts other than those requiring special experience, the natives of the district do not intend to allow the natural concern felt regarding opportunities for promotion to interfere with recruiting.

Several speakers stressed their determination to fulfil in every respect the offer made to the Government, and to do everything possible to make the recruiting of the Maori Battalion a credit to their race. Nevertheless, the following motion was approved for transmission to the Maori Advisory Board, which is assisting the Army Council in forming the native corps:—

“That this meeting of elders and returned soldiers of the Gisborne and East Coast districts vigorously and unanimously opposes the principle represented by the Army Council’s invitation to pakeha officers to apply for appointment to the Maori Battalion. When we offered to the Government the services of the Maori people, we asked for and were granted the privilege of serving on an equal footing in all respects with our pakeha brothers. To-day we are faced with a decision by the Army Council which appears likely to affect the prospects of Maoris officering their own battalion. We concede that it may be desirable to use pakeha officers in the initial training of the Maori Battalion, but protest against any policy which will stand in the way of Maori officers qualifying for command of companies or for other posts in the corps for which they possess the necessary training.”