MAORI RECRUITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20114, 7 December 1939, Page 7

MAORI RECRUITS

GISBORNE’S 380 MEN

112 ALREADY PASSED

COMPANY STRENGTH

LEADER’S EXAMPLE

In the formation of the special Maori Battalion, one company will be drawn from the East Coast native district, comprising an area stretching from Torere, in the Bay of Plenty to Masterton, in the Wairarapa. The recruiting strength shown by the Gisborne area alone is already sufficient to guarantee that the company will be forthcoming, even if the response in other areas of the eastern district is less satisfactory. To date, the list of Maori recruits at Gisborne, covering enlistments in Poverty Bay, the East Coast, and part of the Wairoa area, stands at 381, and it is considered that by the middle of January there will be a total enrolment of 500 natives from this district. The list, includes, of course, a proportion of men who, though keen and fairly fit, are debarred from service at present owing to age or marital status. Nevertheless, nearly onethird of the men on the list have qualified by age and physical condition, and are now awaiting the opportunity of service. The number now listed as fit and ready is 112, which represents nearly half as many again as are likely to be called in the first big draft for the Maori Battalion for the whole area between Torere and Masterton. There are another 60 men now listed ns ready to go before the medical board, and of these there should be a good proportion capable of meeting the exacting physical requirements for active service. Officers of Battalion The keen interest taken by the tribal elders, and the example afforded by influential natives in the district who have offered their services, is bearing fruit with the younger men of the Maori people. This is evident from the strength of recruiting in this area. It is believed that a company could be raised and kept at strength from Gisborne and the East Coast, though this, of course, would entail a disproportionate load upon the native community here. Much interest will be fell in the officering of the battalion, and details forwarded from Trentham, where the budding officers and non-commission-cd officers are preparing themselves for leadership, indicates that there will he adequate tribal representation. The training of the battalion is to be under Major G. Dittmer, M.C., N.Z.S.C., at the outset, with Major G. R. Bertrand as his second-in-com-mand. Maori officers now commissioned, and undergoing training at Trentham in the more advanced work, comprise Captain P. Tahiwi, Otaki; Captain J. C. Tikao, Christchurch, and Captain T. Love, Wellington; Lieutenant Harding Leaf, North Auckland; Lieutenant H. To Kani Ferris, Gisborne; Second-Lieutenant W. Werohia, Tauranga, Second-Lieu-tenant K. Karaitiana, Hastirtgs, Sec-ond-Lieutenant Kahunga, address unstated. Second-Lieutenant Ngata, East Coast, Second-Lieutenant Sarassen, address unstated, and SecondLieutenant Rangi Royal, Rotorua. The further enlistments from Gisborne, compiled since the last group was published, includes a number of men who previously put in their names for the Euroepan force, but who now have .transferred their enrolments. It will be noted from the list below that all are young, and the presence of so many men of the younger age groups is held to be a good indication of the force of example with the Maori youth. Additional Enlistments The list of further enrolments is as under:— Heremia, Kahapu L„ single, 39 years, Whangara, labourer. Ruti, Meihana, married, 35 years, Whangara, labourer. Te Runa, Parekura, single, 22 years, Tokomaru Bdy. Eremana, Henare, single, 21 years, Tokomaru Bay, wooldryer. Ormond, Thomas C„ single, 21 years, Mahia, student. Hongara, Karipori, single, 21 years, Wuitakaro, labourer. Houia, liiki, single, 21 years, Ruatoria, labourer, Pahina, Matiu T., single, 25 years, Tokomaru Bay, butcher. Carroll, Alfred N., single, 21 years, Wairoa, shearer. Tuhara, Anaru IT., married, 34 years, Waitakaro, labourer. Parker, John R„ single, 23 years, Waitakaro, labourer. Ilenarc, Pin, single, 21 years, Waipiro Bay, labourer. Te Awarau, Ngaro, single, 32 years, Waipiro Bay, shepherd. Taewa, Himiona, single, 21 years, Waipiro Bay, labourer. Wetere, Tamati, single, 25 years, Waipiro Bay, labourer. Collier, James P„ single, 25 years, Tokomaru Bay, factory assistant. Kururangi, Wiremu, single, 23 years, Hicks Bay, labourer.

Te Kawa, George, single, 23 years, Wni-o-matatini. labourer. Farr, Thomas, single, 26 yarn's, I-lieks Bay, labourer. Babbington, Dave, single, 25 years, Hicks Bay, labourer.

Smith, Tutokorua, single, 22 years. Nuhaka, labourer. Renata, Sam, single, 32 years, Gisborne, labourer. Brown, liiki, single, 32 years, Te Araroa, labourer.

Thompson, Tupa, single, 20 years, Tokomaru Bay, labourer.

Cockery, James, single, 24 years, Tokomaru Bay, freezing worker. Kihi, William Coleman, single, 24 years, Frasertown, labourer. Taingahuo, Taj, single, 20 years, Tokomaru Bay, labourer. Poutu, Jerry, single. 24 years, Hicks Bay, labourer.

Waenga, Paora, single, 22 years, Cape Runaway, labourer. Hamon. Eruera D., single, 21 years, Gisborne, labourer.