THE MAORI CONTINGENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 708, 30 September 1914, Page 5

THE MAORI CONTINGENT.

FOR EGYPT AND SAMOA. FORCE OF FIVE HUNDRED. A contingent of 500 natives is being organised for service in the war. Of this number 250 are to proceed to Egypt, and 250 will be sant to Samoa for garrison duty. Interviewed on Monday prior to his departure for ibe South, the Hon. *Dr. M. Pomare, member of the Executive representing the native race, informed a press representative that morn applications for enrolment in the force are being received than can possibly be dealt with. The organisation of the Maori volunteers' has been left to Dr Pomare, and the other native members of the House. Each member of this committee is organising his own district. It is intended to constitute the force as follows:—East Coast natives, 180; West Coast, 180; North Coast, 100; South Coast, 40. Every trib« and all parts of the Dominion will be represented. The entire Maori contingent will go into camp at Auckland on about October 7th next, probably on a Bite at Avondale. Amongst the volunteers are several who held commissions in the South African war, and in all probability the officers oE the continent will be selected from these, The natives will be equipped as infantry, and steps are to be taken to make them as efficient as possible. Those Maoris who were members of the territorials, and who joined the first expeditionary force, will not be interfered with.