MILITARY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 March 1918, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

DUTY FURLOUGH MEN. THREE WEEKS’ PAY Speaking yesterday morning in reference to duty furlough men, that is, men who have been on active service and have been granted leave from Home to visit New Zealand, and whose leave has been extended, the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen), stated that these men came back here on the clear unlerstanding that when they got back they would get three weeks’ leave without pay. Some of them did not appear to have been accurately informed of this, and were disappointed that they had not been paid. The Defence Department had agreed to give them three weeks’ pay with railway privileges, but it must be clearly understood that they could not get more than this if they got their leave extended. They came back for private reasons, and if further leave w T as required they would have to take it without pay.

CONSCRIPTION OF MAORIS. In; regard to the conscription of Maoris ; ;, for military service, Sir James Allen, Mnister of states that the registration of the eligible members of all tribes' is proceeding, and will probably be completed about March 20. He states further, that there is no intention to conscript Maoris from tribes the members of which have volunteered for active service. He alluded to the splendid manner in which the Maoris had come forward, and stated it was a great satisfaction to be able to state that in/ the large majority of cases it would be unnecessary' to apply conscription. There was one tribe, however—the Waikatos —who had not volunteered satisfactorily. The men of this tribe had still an opportunity to enlist, and no one. would be prouder than he if they would do so, and the authorities did not have to apply conscription tp them. The register would, of course*' be a complete one, but it did not follow' that the on Tt would be conscripted. Any su|sequlnt''lction would depend entirely on* the?. Maoris' themselves,, but . .it m Jf: ■ ’■ it| jwas nM fair that 9Q per pent, of tlji|m. ofter^ their ’ services wil- * while %ne" small: section should f :?shek to evade service:'' *