MAORIS’ PROTEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 244, 28 July 1936, Page 3

MAORIS’ PROTEST

RESENTMEN'H‘ AT REMARKS.

MATCH AGAINST S‘PRINGBDKS. (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, July 27. “It was a hard, clean game,” said Mr W. T. Parata, a member of the Maori Rugby Advisory Board, when recalling the match between the Maoris and the Springboks at Napier in 1921. Mr Parata, who was one of the select~ 01's of the Maori team on that occasion, leommented on the statements made by Mr Te Ari Pituma, asserting that Mr Pitama was not in any way connected officially with Maori football in the South Island, or anywhere else. . “I strongly resent the remarks he has made concerning the Arawa. people,” said Mr Parata. “He refers to local Maoris not being permitted to play golf at Rotorua, which is incorn rec-t, because there are several Maori‘ members of the Rotorua. Club.” 1

Mr Parata characterised as most unfair the statement made by Mr Pitama that the Rotorua Maoris had been commercialised.

“They have always been willing to put themselves out to help the Gov—ernment in the entertainment of distinguished visitors,” said Mr Parata, “and their hospitality has always been available, often at considerable expense to themselves, as well asat great personal sacrifice and inconvenience.”

Speilking of Rugby football, Mr Parata declared that the Maoris throughout New Zealand were dissatisfied with the present conditions. There were matters requiring very urgent atten-

Speaking of the much ~ discussed Maori match: he said it was no more than a hard, clean game, and the de—monstration after the match was not against the Springboks, ibut, unfortu—nately, against the referee, who was a sick man, and who should not have controlled the game. As to the social side, the Africans were entertained at Napier by Mrs Perry, a leading member of the Maori race, and also byMr Adam Pohio, at l’etone. One of the Spring-f boks wrote in the public Ipress contra-: dieting the rumours of racial feeling} and stating that their reception from the Taranaki Maoris was one of the best experiences of the tour.

ARAWA ATTITUDE CONDEMNED.

\VAIROA PLAYERS’ VIEWS. TNAIROA, July 27. Maori footballers in this district do not intend to identify themselves with‘ any action taken by the Arawa Maoris; to boycott the South African football-l ers. They say that they are lookingl forward to the visit of the Springboks‘ and would. welcome an opportunity ot‘ meeting them. Three former Maori All Blacks, twol of whom 'had played against the} Springboks when they were last inl New Zealand, all voiced the view that? it was a pity the Arawas had suggest ed that any such action as boycotting be taken. One Maori player, who played in the nIIJCIL-dISCUSSed 1921 match between the Springboks and the Maoris at Napier, said he thought the Arawas were making a mountain out of a, molehill. He said feeling in the game did run a. bit; high, but that was nothing. The trouble was all caused by one man, and he did not see why it should not be forgotten. “Those of us who have travelled know what the position is about what they call the colour bar,” he said, “but we don’t worry about that. If the Springboks don’t like us, and we have any differences, let us have it out on the football field. We can, take all the Springboks like to give us,- and hand. a little hit back, too. I don’t know why the Rotor-11a. Maoris are complaining. They have not produced many good footballers.” 7 Another Maori All Black said he was greatly disappointed at the action ol’ the Arawas. He had hoped that, if there had been any feeling, it had been forgotten. 'He .did not resent the :noninclusion of Maoris in the New Zea»land team that toured South Africa in 1928. He had been to South Africa, and, knowing the position there, he thought it was a 'very wise move not to: include Maoris in the team.

“'IJIe _visit of the South African team to New Zealand,” 'he said, “is a totally different thing. In New Zealand there is no distinction (between the Maori and. the pa-keha. “’0 are on an entirely different footing from the natives of South Africa, and we have always been given the privileges of the pakeha. 1 don’t think we should object- to: playing against the Springboks. I for one would not. The game is the thing—the ball we are playing with, and not the men we are playing against.”

Another prominent Maori represen—tative footballer, who: was emergency for the 1921 game at Napier, said, that if there were going to: be any ill—feeling he thought the wisest course for the Rugby Union) to take would he to instruct its selectors not to include Mam-is in any of themteums to: meet the Springlmks. '

DELICACY OF THE SITUATION.

BISHOP BENNETT‘S COMMENT

\VELLINGTON, July 27. “I am very sorry this trouble has occurred,” said the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett (Bishop of Aotearoa), commenting tux-night on the Maori attitude to the Springbok tour. “I do not think South Africans feel toward the Maori race what they feel toward the. native: races of South Africa,” Bishop Bennett said. “As far as I can see the. best thing to he done now is for the New Zealand Rugby Union to send a message to the: South African Rugby Board: informing, them of the. delicacy of the situation. It could be pointed [out that the Maori people fear that the colour line might be drawn when the. Springboks play in New Zealazn:d-, and that, in their de—sire to Show everything in the way of true hospitality, the Maori people‘

would nut desire to force themselves upon the South African visitors if there was the slightest foe-ling on the part of ‘ the. Springboks that they would rather not play the JMaoris in New Zealand. _-

“I believe the Maori people would have no: feeling toward the South Africans if they could. get an assurance from the South African Rugby Board that the colour line would not be drawn,” he said.