MAORI FIGHTING SPIRIT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 8

MAORI FIGHTING SPIRIT.

RECRUITS IN EXCESS OP DEMAND. In tho courso of a talk in Auckland about recruiting among tho Maoris, the Hon Dr Pomare, who is chairman of tho Maori Recruiting- Board, said that generally speaking tho Natives were respo tiding so well to tho call for men tiiat there is at present an actual surplus of recruits. Tho camp at Narrow Neck is full, and no more can bo taken until tho departure of another reinforcement. Up to dale something like 1400 Maori troops have left New Zealand for tho fighting line, in addition to which there are 400 men in the training camp, while among some of tho tribes recruiting enthusiasm is so keen that tho board is obliged to put on the brake to prevent the wholesale depletion of young men. “ With the exception of ono or two tribes which still retain bitt-or memories the men of tho Maori race throughout tho country are all as keen as mustard to don tho khaki and fight alongside their fellow-citizens of the Empire,” said the Minister. “ The warrior blood of tho' Maori people has been stirred by this present war, and their enthusiasm aroused in a mamiep which eloquently illustrates their appreciation of tho common bond of citizenship, which unites Maori and pakeha. I will quote an instance among many others that have come to my notice,” added Dr Pomare. “ A few days ago an old Maori mother camo along to my office in Wellington, accompanied by a youth of about nineteen years. She told me that three of her sons had gono to fight for tho King. Ono of them had been killed at Gallipoli, and the two others had both returned badly crippled. ‘ I have now no sons fighting for the honour of tho Maori people,’ declared tho old mother of warriors sadly, ‘so I have brought along my youngest. He must go and take the place of his brothers, and the old lady would hear no arguments that she and hers had already done nobly to uphold the honour of which she was so jealous. She insisted that while she had sons to fight, there must be at least one of them in tho battle line.”