THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 298, 26 May 1915, Page 8

THE WAR.

New Zealand. MAORIS FOR THE PROMT. AXOTIIER COXTIXuEXT WANTED. COOK 1 SLA N'DICRS INCLUDED. Auckland, Last Night. The Hon. Dr. I'omare, the .Minister representing the Native race, arrived in Auckland this morning, mainly for the purpose of making arrangements for the training of the next contingent of Maori soldiers for the front. The first contingent, Dr. • Pomare states, created a splendid impression in Egypt, and official correspondence proves that General Birdwood and the other military authorities were particularly pleased with the stamp of man of which the contingent was made up. Tile result is that it hag now been decided that tlio Maoris shall go to the front, and as soon as their training is complete they will proceed to the Dardanelles. Whether the men who went to Malta will return to Egypt for further training Dr. I'omare does not know, but it is intended that they shall go into the firing line in about two months' time. In the meantime a system of continual recruiting will proceed, so that the present expeditionary force, may he kept up to its full strength, and as a first reinforcement 330 men will lie selected to go into camp at Auckland for active training. The physical .standard required will undergo some alteration. The first contingent consisted of men of an average height of sft. 9in. and an average weight of over 12st. In selecting men for the. new quota the minimum height will be reduced from sft. Sin. to sft. Gin. The first reinforcements will be 330 strong and will go into immediate training at Auckland. A force of natives at Rarotonga is al-o under steady training, and it is likely that the Cook Islands will supply a fine stamp of recruit. They will not be brought to Auckland to join the first reinforcements, however, as winter weather here, would, it is considered, be unsuitable. They will join a later quota.

STAMPS FOR WAR TAX. QUESTION BEFORE THE CABINET. Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Patriotic Society interviewed the Hon. R. Ileaton Rhodes, Postmaster-General to-day to suggest that his department grant permission for a special stamp to be afiix"d to letters with the view of augmenting the patriotic funds generally and in the first instance the funds of the forthcoming Wellington carnival. Mr. Rhodes pointed out that he had had similar applications from several sources since the war began, and if he made a concession to one organisation he would have to make it to all. The matter had already received the consideration of the Cabinet. Mr, Rhodes mentioned that another suggestion was that the postage rates should be increased as a war tax, but no decision had yet been arrived at by the Cabinet. He informed the deputation that he had just received a specimen of a Canadian one cent stamp overprinted "War tax." This stamp was apparently required to be attached to every posted letter in addition to the regular postage.

INVALIDED HOME, MEN FROM RE INFORCEMEXTS. Dunedin, Last Niglit. Among the passengers by the iMokoi.'. from Australia were 15 members of the reinforcements invalided home from Albany. The men were medically inspected at Invercargill, where one of tlieni landed, and the others are arriving here this evening. All the men are due to disembark at Wellington, and thence they will proceed to Trentliain. There seems to be no case of serious disease amongst the men.

FOR THE FRONT. TARANAKI VOLUNTEERS. The following Taranaki men liave volunteered for active service with this expeditionary force:—■ IL iW. Copley, Mokau. H. J. Christian, Xew Plymouth. H. T, Fisher, Tataraimaka. W. U. D. llorsnell, New Plymouth. A. J, Harding, Punilio. W. L. Perry, Xew Plymouth. J. Shaw, Xew Plymouth. From Stratford. A. D. Corkill. F. J. Casey. J. R. Crcsswell. W. (I. Cate. C. G. Erskine. W. R. Foil in. C. 11. S. Jennings. G. Johns. J. H. Ivirby. A, Manning. J. iMoDonald. F. D. Oxley. G. Witley. From Htham. W. D. Casey. T. R. Casey. » A. O, Poulson. A. Herman, Whanga.