THE MAORI CONTINGENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 4

THE MAORI CONTINGENT.

MORE .MAORIS WANTED, (Pek Press Association.) Otorohauga, May •"). A number of matters connoet-t d. with the w:ir "ore referred to by'the Prime .Minister in a. speech Jn opening the new municipal •hall' here to-day. In, replying to the public address of welcome 'oufside the. half, Mr Massey said lie desired specially- to thank the natives who had taken part in the enthusiastic welcome to him that day. When he noticed the part, ia-keiii in the proceedings by their native friends, lie was reminded of the -Maori-'contin-gent that -New Zealand luid .sent to.the other side -of tlie world to take part in fight-ina: the battles of tlie Empire there.—(Applause.) The 000 men or thereabouts that they .had' .sent away had created a very favorable impression, not. only in New Zealand' before their denartu're, but a.Uo on lauding in Egypt, "where they took tlierr place among' the other troops of the Emp'ro. (Applause), "Tjhe Maori contingent is now doing garrison, duty at Malta,'' continued Mr Massey, "but t predict that thv.v will' .soon bo given an opportunity to distinguish themselves in. the same way as that in -which their pakeha bretliren have diist'tiguishod thenfselvos during the oast few days.—(Cheers'). When' that time comes I- feel absolutely certain, they will' give just as good au account of themselves as we might expect from the descendants of their fightrn-g ancestors.—(Cheers). I may follow "up these remarks by. telling you that tlie impression created: by tlie Maoris on the great men of the army lias lieen so good that more soldiers of our native race are wanted.—("Hoar. hear.") We shall therefore be asking within the next few days or few weeks for another contingent from the Maori race.- —(Cheer.'-). I hope that many of the voting Maori men whom I now .-ec- liefore ">o wii!' lie included in that contingent.''—(' 'Hoar, hear.'")