COMMON CAUSE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20116, 9 December 1939, Page 4

COMMON CAUSE

EUROPEAN AND MAORI “DEMOCRATIC EMPIRE” TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERS N.C.O. DRAFT SENT OFF “To-day both races stand shoulder to shoulder for the one cause, in the service of His Majesty’s Government and the maintenance of our democratic Empire. We look upon ourselves as brothers, united under the King, and we realise that our bonds of brotherhood are firmer today than ever before,” said a Maori speaker at yesterday’s farewell to the main N.C.O. draft for the second echelon, which left Gisborne for Trentham in company with a groqp of Maori soldiers who will later take non-commissioned rank in the native battalion.

The speaker was the Rev. Wi Tawaho, of (Tolaga Bay, who spoke for the large number of iMaori people present to give the volunteers for active service a rousing send-off. The crowd was much Ibeyond the capacity of ‘the Atoercorn Hall, and the occasion once again emphasised the inadequacy of the public accommodation under present ’conditions. The draft comprised equal numbers of Europeans and Maoris, all bound ■for the army school at Trentham. They received the congratulations io:f the citizens of Gisborne, through ‘the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. H. Hall, and a message of comradeship from the returned soldiers of the district, delivered Iby Mr. A. IS. IMu'ir, as well as the encouragement and acknowledgement of the Rev. Wi Tawaho.

Possibly the Last Great War

The Deputy-Mayor explained that Mr. D. W. iColeman, 'M.P., was engaged on the work of the Parliamentary (Defence Committee, and th'at therefore the task of farewell!n.g the draft on behalf of the people of Gisborne had (fallen to him. He regarded it as no pleasant task to send off the young men of the community to face the hazards of .War, tout he drew consolation from the possibility that this .might toe the last great struggle, and that in the future there would foe a peace which .was more than the lapse of time between two wars. Opinions would differ, perhaps, a’s to whether this war could have (been averted, tout now that it had broken out, all must unite in the effort to win it, and so preserve liberty and freedom, said IMr. Hall, who extended to the members of khe draft the appreciation of the public of Gisiborne in respect to their early response to the call of ’their country. He wished each member of the draft the best of luck and a safe return to [New Zealand.

Ex-Service Men’s Message

“The Returned Soldiers’ Association sends you a message of good luck. We know rpmething of what you arc going to, and we wish you all good fortune in your military careers. To both the European and Mlaori soldiers, we offer the services of our association in any matter in which we can .give aid. (If there is anything you 'want attended to, let us know, and amonig the ranks of the association we will find someone ‘who is specially qualified to attend to it for you,” said IMr. 'A. ,S. Muir, vice-presi-dent of the Gisiborne Returned Soldiers’ Association. “We wish you God speed, a Wap.py camp life, success in the careers that lie ahead of you, and an early return safe and sound to your people.” In the course of his speech, the Rev. Wi Tawaho Stated that the interest shown .by their .friends and relatives, and toy representatives of official bodies, would help the men of the draft to realise the great moral support extended to them toy all in connection with the task 'which lay before them. He 'sincerely trusted that the district’s Maori soldiers would uphold the notble traditions of their fighting 'ancestors, and persevere to the end in all that was given them Jo do.

Vital Mission in Prospect

It was a consolation to the parents of the 'Maori soldiers of this district, he continued, that they were to leave under the guidance of Lieutenant Parekura Tureia, who, as was wellknown to European as well as to Maori people of Poverty iß'ay, was ■well qualified to .give them fatherly care. In his vocation as a soldier, Lieutenant Tureila avoulcl feel much at home, for he came of a famous fighting stock. He would toe leading men on a vital mission, and he adjured them to do their parts faithfully and with the same promptitude with which they had answered the call to the Empire. The speaker closed with a 'blessing upon the men of the draft, of tooth races.. t .Lieutenant R. IH. Perretl , district officer of the Army Department, also spoke a few words to the draft, and wished 'them 1 good luck in the immediate future as well las in the later stages of .their military service.

Hearty cheers for the volunteers were .given on the call of the DeputyMayor, and shortly afterwards the draft started 'by service car on the first stage of their journey to Trentham, moving off amidst a chorus of good-luck wishes.