MAORI SOLDIERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 707, 26 September 1914, Page 5

MAORI SOLDIERS.

FOR SERVICE ABROAD. r Steps are being taken to put into operatijn the necessary machinery for the mobilisation of the Maori contingent whose offer to go abroad on active service has been accepted. The Government offered the services of 500 Maoris, and these will comprise a volunteer force to be drawn from the different districts on a population basis. Of the total force the greater part will be drawn from the North Island, only forty being required frofti the South Island. The rest will be made up of volunteers from the different Maori districts. Volunteers must be between the age of 20 years and 40 years, and of a minimum height of sft 4in.

Lieut. A. E. Jones, of St. Staphen's College, is acting in Auckland for Dr Pomare and for Dr Buck, and is enlisting volunteers. As far as the King Country and Waikato natives are concerned the matter has been discussed and it has been decided to defer action . until the return of the Maori King Rata, who is eipected to reach Auckland on Monday. King Rata is j°st returning from a visit to England, and it is felt by the local chiefs that the opportunity should be afforded to the Maori King of promoting tha movement. ,Mr Hare Hemara, at Otoro-hang-1 *, has the matter in hand, while ' at Te Kuiti Messrs John Hetet, Pepene Eketone a"d Anaru Eketone and others will doubtless take a prominent part in the busines?. However, the arrival of Rata will prohably Bee the movement placed on a definite footing, and active steps taken to organise the local contingent.