MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 230, 28 November 1916, Page 3

MERCER.

WILL THE MAOBIB ENLIST? A DOUBTFUL OUTCOME. As a sequel to the conference last Friday of the Minister for Defence (the Hon. James Allen, M.P.) with the Waikato Maoris at Mercer on the subject of recruiting, as recorded in our last issue, a committee of 25 members of the Waikato tribe was appointed to give consideration to the representations as submitted by Mr Allen for a better response to the call for men. Although nothing har yet been finally settled the indications do not point to any very satisfactory results accruing, the Waikato chiefs apparently not being imbued with such patriotic inspirations as their colleagues in other parts of the Dominion. The probable explanation is that in the war of the "sixties" the Waikato Maoris were more prominently identified in the conflict than the other tribes, and as a perhaps natural result their present day descendants are reluctant to exhibit any very marked co-operation or unity with the pakehas. In conversation yesterday with a "Times" representative, Tama Kawe, one of the "Waikatos" from Te Kuiti, explained that he was a member of the committee that had been authorised to deal with the situation. He stated that before an answer could be given to the Minister the committee would first have to arrive at a decision which would be submitted to "Kingi" Rata, and another meeting would be arranged to settle thematter. He added that section three of the Treaty of Waitangi provided only for the Maoris helping the pakehas in the event of New Zealand being invaded by an enemy. Consequently it was not compulsory for them to go out of the country to assist the Pakeha. Then, again, the late Tawhio, " King " Rata's grandfather, acting On behalf of the Maori race, at Alexandra, in 1881, handed to Major Mair 70 rifles, which he requested should be taken back to England as the Maori race would fight no more. More important than these considerations, however, was a certain treaty that exists be'.ween the Maoris themselves, and while he was proud to be a "Britisher" and respected the conditions of the Treaty of Waitangi he was more influenced by their own more sacred treaty. That was why they could not tell the boystogo. He further suggested that there should not be two laws in the land, one for the pakeha and one for the Maori. " Why not have one for both," he asked. The laws regarding the sale of liquor, he urged, dealt harshly with the Maoris, while the Chinese and Austrians were given a free hand. He made it clear that at the meeting at the pah Dr Pomare and Tau Henare, M.P.'s, favoured sending the boys forward. When reminded of the Defence Minister's power to call up the Maoris in the event of them not going forward, he replied, "Let them take their chance."

Mr F. Freeborne has been appointed to the position of Town Clerk, vacated by Mr T. Wright, who has been accepted for the 24th Reinforcement Draft, and leaves for camp on the 12th December. Mr Wright, it will be remembered, took over the appointment from Mr P. N. King, on the latter's departure for Auckland some six months ago. The barque Senorita, at present in Auckland harbour, is due to sail for Sydney 10 days hence. She is being loaded wi}h 310,000 feet of white pine from the United Timber Co.'s Mercer mill. The first week's operations of the Waikato Shipping Co., Ltd., augurs well for the future success of the Company. A shipment of 1800 cases of benzine and kerosene, consigned to Hamilton, that arrived via Port Waikato was handled by the Company. It is a record for the A move is being made towards biinging about an improvement to Koheroa Hill-on the road from Mercer to Maungatawhiri— by petitioning the local bodies, viz, tbe Franklin County Council and the Mercer Town Board, to ease the grade on either side of the hill, and thus bring it into line with the satisfactory oondition of the remainder ot the road. The work would be a considerable benefit to the sottlera of Maungatawhiri Valley and further back as far aa the Hanmki Plains, because they would thni be in a position to avail themselves of the better railway eerrice at Mercer, in-

stead of having to travel from Pokeno as at present. The as Freetrader, which has done service on the Waikato river for the last 20 years, has been beached by the new owners, the Waikato Shipping Co., Ltd., for reconstruction and overhaul