MAORI PIONEERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 230, 29 September 1926, Page 4

MAORI PIONEERS

THEIR WORK IN THE GREAT WAR, COMMANDING OFFICER RETURNS.

fBy Telegraph

— Own Correspondent.)

AUCKLAND, Sept, 29 C "Yes, the war seem® a long time ovcr, but not long enough for me to forget the work of the Maori Blattalion," said Major R. I. Dansey, who i'eturned to New Zealand yesterday after an absence of several years. Major Dansev commanded the Battalion. He was formerly a wellknown live-eighth and eentre tbreeqnarter, who played sterling footba.ll loi' Otagp Universitv and Otago, and he was .a Soutli Island representative. He was just the man to earn the respect of the Maoris, and when he was given their oommand they would have followed him. to even b.otter place® than they did. "In the firing line they were equal to any. They were fighters wliom none could exeel," said Major D'ansey. "Then, when they were tvansformed into a Pioneer Corps, they knew no equals whatever." Ihe Maoris were in the hot place® of Gallipoli. They took all that wa® ooming in the sam.e spirit. They never sloucbed or let up. When they were trans&erred to France they were attached to New Zealand regiments, and as these had no pioneers the Maoris were selected to fill tlie hill. There .were keen recollectious of their trenc-h digging feats on the Peninsula. "As pioneers and actual workers

tney were second ro none and better than most," continued Major Dansey. "In fact, 1 did not personally see their equal®. They proved their ability, wliether it was tree felling, trencbing, digging, or anything else. They could sliift more dirt in a given time than any other men whatever, aird it didn't trouble them if thev were in the eentre of the firing line. They did as much and as well and happily right under the guns as they did in the rear." Major Dansey was transferred from tlie ctmmancl of the Maori Battalion to tlie staff of Ihe R-oyal Engineers and served to the end of the war 011 the Ypres salienf, where he commanded a. special company of New Zealand Engineers. Yesterday he had liis first glimpse of New Zealand since he lcft for tlie scene of tlie war. He has returned to live liere with liis wile and son, and will probably make his home in Auckland. "But," said the Maior, "I must go south to> see some of tlie men I played Rugby with in tlie days of Colin Gilray, Adams, and MePherson."