MAORIS AND WAR EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24835, 29 August 1942, Page 4

MAORIS AND WAR EFFORT

Regrouping Of Armed Forces (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 28. The War Cabinet has approved a plan for regrouping Maori personnel in the armed forces into exclusively Maori units with Maori officers and non-commissioned officers. The Hon. P. K. Paikea, Minister in charge of the Maori war effort, stated tonight that this had been received with the utmost satisfaction and delight by the Maori people throughout the Dominion. The Maoris, said the Minister, felt in this movement an appeal to their racial pride, an opportunity to accept responsibility in keeping with their past traditions, and the right to express themselves in their own Maori ways. This must not be construed as a reversion to obsolete methods of organization, but on the contrary as the adoption of modern methods based on that outstanding and ancient characteristic of the Maoris to co-operate with one another in the attainment of a common object. Since the Government had authorized the establishment of a Maori war effort organization, continued the Minister, encouraging and satisfactory progress had been achieved in putting into operation the measures and principles involved. Tribal committees were being established rapidly all over the Dominion, and their duties would be to cooperate in recruiting Maori men of eligible military age for the third Maori battalion and other Maori units and in a campaign for increasing production. Generally, they would assist in directing and placing the remaining manpower and woman-power of the Maori people where it was calculated best to serve the interests of their country. Mr Paikea said that the approval given to the formation of additional Maori units had been acclaimed by the Maori people as a movement close to their hearts. The revival of leadership in the Maori people, whether it be in the fighting services on in their settlements, might prove of vital importance to the future development and welfare of the race. On the production side of the Maori war effort, the Minister concluded, the response of the Maori people had been most - enthusiastic. Preparations were being made for the production of additional vegetables and other foodstuffs in order to meet abnormal war demands.