MAORIBATTALION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 4

MAORIBATTALION

RECRUITING PLANS OFFICERS FOR UNIT SPECIAL FORCE NATIVES PROMOTION FROM RANKS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this.day. Up to the end of October the registrations for the Maori battalion had reached the gratifying total of DOB—--626 from the northern military district, 318 from the central military district and l!l from the southern military district, said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, last night. “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, it has been decided that recruiting is to continue until further notice, and that the main body of the battalion will not go into camp until about January 18,” said Mr. Jones. “It is essential that there should be a sufficient number of well-trained officers and non-conunissioned officers available to undertake the training of the battalion when it is formed. Territorial Force "There are only four Maori officers now serving in I lie territorial force and. as nearly nl| Ihe officers who served in tile Maori Pioneer Battalion during the Great War are now, like their pakeha brother officers, well over tlie age laid down for active service officers, practically ,the full complement 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 non-commissioned officers.

“The position as regards non-com-missioned officers is a little better as there are a number of Maoris already serving in the Special Force, who have had several years of training in the territorial force and many of these have passed through the secondary school cadets and gained non-commissioned rank.

“It has been found that, by restricting enlistment to single men, a number of promising candidates for commissioned and non-commissioned rank have been debarred from enlisting. so if has been decided to open recruiting to married men with not more than two children, but these men must be between (he ages of 21 and 35 years. Medical Examination .“Medical examinations are now being held at various centres where the recruits will be concentrated for the 'purpose. Men who have to travel any distance will be provided with travelling warrants. “Where it will be cheaper for the medical boards to travel to outlying centres, (his will be arranged. “When the medical examinations have been completed and, so as to maintain representation of the tribes among the officers and non-commis-sioned officers, area officers have been instructed to forward to Army Headquarters a report on the men who are considered suitable for training as officers and non-commissioned officers.

“Arrangements have also been made for Major G. Dillmer, M.8.E.M.C., N. Z. Staff Corns, to visit all mobilisation camps for the purpose of selecting, from Maoris now in camp with the Special Force and who have expressed a wish to be transferred to the Maori battalion, suitable candidates as prospective officers and non-commissioned officers. There arc approximately 50 Maoris in camp with the Special Force, who have signified a desire to join the Maori battalion. Course of Instruction "It is expected that about 100 prospective officers and non-commissioned officers will be obtained 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 to qualify as officers and non-commissioned officers.

“These arrangements should produce from GO to 75 per cent of the total number of officers and noncommissioned officers required and, by the time the main body arrives in camp these men will then have completed two months of training. “The balance needed to complete the establishment will be selected from the main body when it assembles. This will permit of promotion from the ranks of men who prove themselves during training. “It is also proposed to select from the men now in camp suitable men to be trained at the Army School as cooks for the battalion. “Registration and attestation forms have been printed in the Maori language. Attesting officers will be assisted by the Maori registration officer or other competent person, who will explain to recruits the terms of enlistment.”