COAST MAORIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 4

COAST MAORIS

BOUND FOR TRENTHAM N.C.O. COURSE AHEAD SMALL PARTY LEAVES "BUILDERS OF THE CANOE" The large muster of Europeans and Maoris at the Gisborne office of the Army Department yesterday afternoon to bid farewell to a small party of East Coast Maoris bound for Trentham to take up a special course of training for non-commissioned rank in the Maori Battalion furnished strong evidence of the interest aroused in the formation of the native corps. All the Coast men were well known to the Gisborne datives, and, through the agency of snort, to most of the Europeans present also. They were selected for their natural gifts of leadership, and there careers in sport had contributed to the development of this talent, which should help to distinguish them in the sphere of military operations. The good wishes of Gisborne people towards the men of the draft were expressed by the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., who emphasised that though the draft was a small one, its departure was just as important as that of a larger number, and its members were making exactly the same sacrifice on behalf of the community. Thanks of the Community On behalf of the people of Gisborne, and of the Government, Mr. Coleman thanked the Maori soldiers for the offer of their services, and congratulated them upon their selection for special training. lie hoped that all would return safely, and said that nothing was more certain than that these young Maori soldiers would do credit to their country and to their race. The congratulations of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association on their selection for the special course and on the prospect of enjoying leadership in an important unit of the New Zealand forces were conveyed to the members of the draft by Mr. G. C. Jones, of the district executive. He said that returned soldiers were proud to greet as comrades those who were taking up the burden of national service; and honoured equally the Maori and the European who accepted that duty. “The Maori people are building another great canoe, for a far journey. In the building of the canoe, it is you and the men with you who will direct the work. The men who build canoes must first learn how it is done. That, in effect, is what you are to do in the next few weeks,” the speaker said. “It is fortunate for the Maori people and for the Dominion as a whole that they can call upon such men as you to direct the work that lies ahead.’’

Responsibility to the Race

Mr. R. W. Halbert addressed the draft in Maori, urging them to do their utmost for the credit of their people, and congratulating them upon their early response and selection for the Maori Battalion. He wished them the best of good fortune as soldiers, and reminded them that by their conduct people abroad would judge their race.

The singing of "Tipperary,” in which the friends and relatives of the Maori soldiers joined heartily to the accompaniment of the W.E.C.M.R. Band, and rousing cheers as the service car left closed the function. The draft travelled southward in charge of Lieutenant A. C. Cooke, who is to undertake an officers’ refresher course at Trentham as a preliminary to taking over home-service duties on the temporary staff of the Army Department.

Among the Hastings Maoris called up for service with the native force, with a prospect of commissioned rank, is the former Poverty Bay and New Zealand Maori representative footballer, Watty McKay. He was to join the draft which left Gisborne yesterday en route to Trentham. SOX FOR SOLDIERS 500 FROM EAST COAST WOOL BEING SUPPLIED TASK FOR WOMENFOLK "The approximate number of troops from your district in camp at present or who will be going into camp with the Second Echelon is 500,” states the officer-in-charge of the patriotic purposes branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, Mr. G. A. Hayden, in a letter received by the secretary o£ the East Coast Provincial Patriotic Council, Mr. W. M. Jenkins. "It is proposed to forward to you sufficient wool, four skeins a pair, to enable the women of your district to knit sox for the number of men shown in the table. Instructions for knitting the sox will be forwarded to you within the next few days.’’ Mr. Hayden said it was important that the sox supplied should be definitely marked with the size and that the correct number of sizes should be knitted. It was desired that for every 100 sox knitted 20 should be size 1 for a foot lOin. long, 45 size 2, or lOfin., 25 size 3, or llin., and 10 size 4, or ll^in.

In regard to the material for pyjamas and handkerchiefs this has not yet been completed, but I shall communicate with you further in due course,’’ concluded Mr. Hayden. The estimate of the number of troops in, or going into, camp from the various areas is as follows:—Auckland, 7350; East Coast, 500; Hawke’s Bay, 1100; Taranaki, 1000; Wellington, 4450; Marlborough, 270; Nelson, 600; Westland, 400; Canterbury, 3280; Otago, 2050; Southland, 1000; total, 22,000,