MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1915, Page 5

MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

TO DEPART FliuM WELLINGTON ' 'hS By Telegraph.—Prcßg Association J| . Wellington, Lost J lit; Maori reinforcements now UQdtf ' training ut Auckland will leave fqt til#' 'Sk front this month, and it has baen landed that they shall embark Wellington. Tho Minister for DefcroiLlf® inont inning this matter to-day, eaid would have been very glad to havs''-®! allowed the Maoris to join the transporfctffr ut Auckland, but tiicy had expressed wish to be brought to Wellington, anjfcWt'l their request had been supported by 'Oa the representatives of the Native iaM'sfl in Parliament. The men would come tOvis! M eliington by train. ' Arrangements are being made'for 9, send-oir to the Maoris 'on the day of 'X' their departure from Wellington. Thera, .'i will be two functions, the first a gather-' #4 ing at which Ministers and citizens wiii be present, and the second *vh a pui'ely Native ceremony. The chief#'is ( wish to have a last word with the fight•'.)/>« ing men of their race before their dep&r* ture for Gallipoli, and the Mayor has'"* consented to let them have the use of the 'lown Hall for the occasion, '•\Ve aro going to continue sending'' J§l Maori reinforcements," said tho Dofenca .*-3 Minister. "Tho next draft will go into 4 ™ camp when the men at present under Xj« training have left. It will include drafts VvS of Natives from Raratonya and Niue, between 150 and 250 strong. These aro very anxious to be given a to servo with the other soldiers of tha '/'jjP Empire, and thoy have received sosw ''4 l elementary training already. Tha y3 Maoris will make up the balance, bring- sjQ ing the total strength of the force to 'ta about 350 men. That will be the third • Al Maori reinforcement. As for the fourttt * t M reinforcement, I shall be very glad hear that,the Waikatos will undertaV*. Tp to find tho men wanted for that drafl jf.'.'W