GISBORNE FAREWELL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 11

GISBORNE FAREWELL

POHO-0-RAWIRI LUNCH Five Maoris from Gisborne who are to enter the non-commissioned officers’ course at Trentham next week will be farewelled at a luncheon at Poho-o-Rawiri meeting-house, Kaiti, to-morrow by leading representatives of the local tribes, and by European residents closely associated with the Maori community. The draft was to have numbered six, but one young man selected is a student entered for the matriculation examination, and is being permitted to complete his year’s studies before entering camp. Those who will leave to-morrow afternoon for Wairoa, en route to Trentham are:—

Te Ilau, Ngarangi, single, 25, Muriwai, fencer.

Jones, Pakira, single, 29 years, Wae-renga-a-liika, teacher. Rangi, Matu, married, 28 years, Gisborne, farmer.

Riki, Rcupenn, single, 28 years, Muriwai, fencer.

Thompson, Julian, married, 29 years, Whangara, dairy-farmer. Opportunity will be taken of the farewell ceremony at Poho-o-Rawiri to register the' satisfaction felt by native leaders in the district with the response of Gisborne and East Coast Maoris to the call of their country. It will be remembered that this district was among the first to offer the services of the Maori people and to suggest the formation of a special Maori Battalion to serve at home or abroad on an equal footing with the soldiers of European descent. The gathering from which that offer and suggestion went forward was held at Poho-o-Rawiri, as also was a subsequent meeting held to discuss commissioned appointments. At the latter gathering, strong objection to the appointment of European officers to posts which could be occupied by Maoris, qualified by ability and experience, was expressed. At the same time, those present were unanimous in agreeing that whatever the policy of the Army Department might be in regard to commissioned posts, Maori recruiting would continue to be given the fullest support of the tribal elders.