“THE SPORT OF WAR.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 906, 18 October 1910, Page 4

“THE SPORT OF WAR.”

A WARLIKE MAORI LEGISLATOR.

Though the Hon. Wi Pere, M.L.C., is many degrees removed from a stripling, the blood of the Maori warrior still throbs in his veins, and be is still found, as one of Gilberts opera heroes phrases it, “longing for the rattle of the complicated battle.” Moreover, Mr Pere has something approaching contempt for the pusillanimous war preparations of his pakeha brethren. He would like to see all the able-bodied people in the country trained for the fray women as well as men, with no arbitrary limit of age. “Are you going to confine the sport of war to these few,” he asked his fellow members of the Legislative Council yesterday, when discussing the Defence Amendment Bill, the “ few ” being the young men from 18 to 25 years of age. “No,” he continued, “let us give everyone a chance. You can have all those from 18 to 25, but let me train those not provided for in the Defence Bill, and I’ll back my lot against yours.” Mr Pere added that his most ardent wish was that New Zealand should have to face a foe whilst he was still alive, and able to shoulder the rifle. “ I want,” he concluded, “to show you that I am as good in practice as in theory. - ’