GO SLOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1915, Page 7

GO SLOW.

MAORIS FOR THE FRONT. A'MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION. By Telegraph.— jPres* Association. Pahiatua, Last Night. In the course of a patriotic address at a sacred concert given by the Hinemoa Opera Company Inst night, Rev. F. Bennett referred to the patriotism of the Maori people, and mentioned that out of a. mere handful, the Maoris had already sent over SOO of their best. As the Government had expressed a wish that reinforcements to the number of 240 should be sent every two months, it could bo seen that the Maori people were certainly going to do their "little hit" in the Umpire's hour of need. The elderly natives of various tribes, especially in the East Coast electorate ha<l sent over 1000 frozen sheep, and over £IOOO for the destitute in the Motherland, in addition to what they have done for local funds. Mr. Bennett feelingly asked: "Is there to be no limit fixed as to the number of Maoris who will be accepted for the front? There is not the slightest doubt that the Maori, as a. race, is a dying one, and the process of absorption is going on so rapidly that in another generation or two it will be very difficult to find a pure Maori. But the proportion of the best Maori manhood who are now being accepted for the front is so high, that I, for one, would be glad if tlie Government would make a limit—say, ]OOO men —and not a»k for any more reinforcements unless the situation became very critical. How is the race to he perpetuated if the best Maori manhood are to ho sent in such large proportions to the front? A thousand men, out of a total population of less than 50,000 men. women, and children, is a high proportion."

Mr. Bennett explained thai (his was his own personal conviction only, and did njit emanate from tlio Mao'ri people. They would probably be willing to send their lait man to the field of battle, if oircnmstaiieos demanded it, but he asked: 'Are we prepared to hasten the extinetion of the race by sendin" forth unlimited number.-; of the pro" genitors of the .Maori people of the future? The matter is sufficiently serious to demand very eareful consideration on the part of the people of the Dominion."