THE MAORIS’ PATRIOTISM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 310, 6 October 1915, Page 2

THE MAORIS’ PATRIOTISM.

REV. F. BENNETT’S PLEA

RESTRICTION OF CONTINGENTS,

PAHIATUA, Oct. 4

In. the course of a patriotic address at a sacred concert by the Hincmoa Opera Company, the Rev. F. Bennett, the prominent Native clergyman, referred to the patriotism of the Maori people. He mentioned that our mere handful of Maoris had already sent over SCO of the very best. As the Gov* ernment had expressed the wish that a reinforcement to the number of 240 be sent every two months, it cou'.id Dc j seen that the Maori people were certainly going to do their “little bit” in the Empire’s hour of need. Already Natives Of various tribes, especially in the East Coast electorate, had sent over a thousand frozen sheep (over. £1,000) for the destitute in tnc Motherland, in addition to what they had done for the local funds. Mr. Bennett feelingly asked, “Is there to bo no limit fixed as to the number or Maoris who will be accepted for the front? There is not the slightest doubt that the Maori race is a dying one. The process of absorption is going on so rapidly that in another generation or two it will bo difficult to find a pure Maori, but the proportion of the best Maori manhood who arc now being accepted for the front is so high that I for one would bo glad if the Government would make a limit, say a thousand men, and not ask for any more unless the situation-becomes very critical. How is the race to be perpetuated if the best Maori manhood are to bo sent in such large proportions to the front?' A thousand men out of a total population of less than fifty thousand' men. women, and children, is a high proportion. " Mr. Bennett explained that this was his own personal conviction only. It did not emanate from the Maori people. They probably would be willing to send-their last man to the field of battle, if circumstances demanded it. He asked: “Are we prepared to hasten the extinction of the nice by sending forth unlimited numbers of the progenitors of the Maori people of the future? ''To matter is sufficiently serious to decareful consideration on the e people of the Dominion.’’