MAORI CONTINGENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1915, Page 5

MAORI CONTINGENTS.

I TO BE KEPT UP. By Tolegraph.— Press 'Association Auckland, La»t Night. ' The inspection of the Second Mfc* Contingent, which haa been in training at Devonport during the post twx months, was made by the Mini«* fr f M Defence on Saturday. He viaited the camp at the Penrose rifle range, wh*TO some 250 of the men were receiving mi> ketry instruction; also the isolation hot* pital, in which a number of convalescent measles cases aro receiving treatment. "I am very pleased indeed with the contingent," the Minister stated. "The men arc a fine lot, and aa keen u thfc first contingent. Tliey display « good spirit, and I am quite sure they will do' well wherever they go." Mr. Allen mid tlio contingent would he despatched in • : about three weeks." They will not be quite so well trained as we should he remarked, "hut they will receive fori tlicr training in Egypt before they m to the front. As Boon as a camp is avail* ■> aula another contingent will be am sembled. If the Maoris are going to da their duty they must maintain these reinforcements at the rate of about HQ ««ytw° months until the war ia oven I firmly believe that the Maoris realise the responsibility that is upon them," Mr. Allen continued, "and appreciate- the privilege of being allowed to share with' the white New Zealander in tha riiht to uphold justice and humanity and freedom. Some of the Maoris, I understand, •re holding back. I cannot realise why the difficulties, and even the injostifM of the past, should stand in the war of their coming forward freely to join «""> Maori and pakeha brothers in upholding the flag which has done so much for them. Anything the Maori may have lost through the settlement of the white man in New Zealand has been more than compensated by the fact that he haa been under the . rule of England, inataad of some other nation, and he should not hesitate when British supremacy in these Islands stands in the balance, lam very pleased to say that there are only a few Maoris who are holding off, and I bellav# their diffidence is only temporary." The necessity for simplicity, and a ' certain amount of hardship in training tamps, was emphasised by the Miniate" "Part of a soldier's business is to learn to look after himself under adverse circumstances. The Maoris are living itt conditions which in some important rtspecta are comparable with those of a private residence. The only fear I have, and I think it is my duty to express it, is that if we create these model conditions for men who will be required to exercise their own initiative in the pro. teetton of their health, we may not be doing our whole duty to than, and I want everyone to realise that it ia essential that before they go to the front th» men should learn, under aa favoraßle conditions as possible, to exercise own ingenuity." \ : Mr. Allen drew attention to the fact that the period of training in New Zealand affords the Only opportunity for learning the important lessons of cleanli- jness and sanitation. Since the Imperial authorities had paid. New Zealand ths high compliment of despatching the laat two reinforcement drafts to the front immediately after their arrival in Egypt, he remarked that no higher testimonial could he given to the value of their training, but it imposed a greater responaibility upon the system. He stated that each contingent will recaive a certain amount of training at Trentham, and will then be placed in a cavag eamp fat conditions more nearly resembling thos# which the men will experience at thq front.