New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 85, 16 March 1916, Page 5

New Zealand

THE AHIKOUKA PROPERTY. MR WHATMAN’S HANDSOME GIFT, Pfer Press Association, Masterton,, March 16. In handing over his Ahikpuka property, valued at about £20,000, to the Wairarapa Patriotic Association on beJialf of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, Mr A. P. Whatman expressed the desire that trustees would be appointed, and that the land would be held In

trust for wounded soldiers. At the expiry of fifty years or thirty years, if the trustees felt that the object of the trust had been fulfilled, the land could

he passed unreservedly to the Salvation Army.

THE MAORI CONTINGENT. Wellington. March 15. General Godley, in n communication to the Defence Minister, says that he has arranged to put all the Maori contingents into the pioneer battalion, which for the present will be composed half of Maoris and half of men transferred from the .surplus of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforempnts. Half the Maori Reinforcements will be posted to this battalion, Ifhich evehtsiiallyr' s*s*; ; 1'WWW! practically entirely a Maori battaliph. The commander will be ‘ Major King, N.Z.S.C., and Captain Buck will be second in command. STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL ACTION. WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT.

At February’s meeting of the Stratford County Council, the recruiting scheme suggested by the Wellington Recruiting Board was not approved by the Council. At yesterday’s meeting the matter again cropped up, as the outcome of sundry correspondence from the Wellington Board, the Prime Minister, and the Stratford Borough Council. After considerable discussion it was decided to invite Mr P. Skoglund, secretary of the Stratford Recruiting Committee, to wait on the Counbili^ndjfurnish alb .available infprmatiqn. I arrived shortly aftpri .and explained the position, as regards Stratford and the outlying district. He stated that many single mep bad not been approached, apd, only wanted to.be spoken tp in the right way,, w.hep, he, was. .satisfied, the ( result would be, a Jarge. .incrqasp i.n .the ranks of the volunteers. He suggested that the riding should : get committees together in the various ridings ,and enlist the sympathy of the leading people, in the district.- The Stratford Committee would gladly •welcome the co-operation of the Council in the scheme they were now working on. Q' ; fi •• After further discussion,. it \wfts resolved, on the motion of Cr. Worthingyon, (seconded, by the Chairman, that the Council forms itself into a Recruiting Committee, ivith power to add to theirj number,..to, act in conjunction •wiftGthe Stratford Recruiting Committeg j r,.v <4 1 )■ > v " C i was decided to hold a meeting of Councillors on Tuesday next, at 1.30 p.m., to gp thoroughly into matters and make detailed arrangements.

It was also decided that the Government Board tie advised that the Council has reconsidered the matter and lecided to form a committee.