Maoris for the Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 2 September 1914, Page 8

Maoris for the Front

THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANG (CD

INDIAN TROOPS FUKM A PRECEDENT.

MATTER UNDEII OONSIDERA

TIUN

By Tclegirapli.—Press Associalion. Wellington, Last Night. When the House of Representatives met this evening, Mr. G-. iM. Thomson asked the Premier whether, in view oi' the fact that Indian troops were to be employed by tlie British' Government in Europe, he iwoulld consider the question of accepting the services of Maoris.' In reply, Hon. Mr. Massey stud he had a. good deal of sympathy with the suggestion. He had always understood it wasi the custom not to employ colored troop? in a European wair, but now that the Indians were going the position was chanjfedi. The Maoris were free citizens, and should be allowed co share in British citizenship, and not lie denied the right to fight for tlii> empire. He wo.uld make TepreuenUitioas to the, Governor on the subject. Sir Joseph Ward said it appeared that a relaxation of the wt*tTOctions which Maoris were .previfcusly placed wider might well l>e given effect to. lion; A. T. JCgata saiid that there was undoubtedly a desire on the, navfc cf the Maoris to stand shoulder io sh'ttuhbr wdtli their fellow New Zealanders in the war, 'but he pointed ihiio out: The Maoris Ihcd mostly in nroas which wore exempt from military training, and although the Maori wax as enthusiastic as She pakeha, he had greater need for training. The Maori wiis wi-li equipped in minor qualifications of tiic soldier, especially so ill the matter ol icnnoifwamt, fet they needed tenoning how to use a gun and obey the v.ords of command. T'lie Am was li.nl offered 300 men, and the .Wftirotis had ab» offered a contingent. He hoped to accomipany the troops in a humble position. *

TO HIiLP OUll IVO.YS.

Palmerston X., last Xight,

At a meeting of the »Palmerston North Patriotic Committee this afternoon, it 'was decided to send a deputation to tiu> Prime Minister and the. Minister of Defence with the Wijcct -if gettiii? appointed a Now Zealand agent to act. at the base of tSie X'ew Zealand force 'in a similar maimer to '.Mr. I'ileher during the Soutlh African war. The t of halving sack an agent is- the supply of imltviduai members of the force with money and tiny other »«'«• sarics during the campaign. A portion «if his duties would also he to supply parents with any cuvailaMc information regarding their hods. It was derided t<> tvsk for the w-opcraitmn of other town!? in the Dominion'. The date on which the dotation wM go to Wellington will be advised kite".

S('ARLATIXA, 1N CAMP. Ghnistehurdi, Last Xight. Scarlatina Jv-is brok/.m onit at the Addington camp -and juii oH'icc.r and rt man have bean taken to the Lake hospital- Others Slave been isolated. All precautions suv now being taken, but the medical oll'icei-s do not regard tire outbreak as serious.