MAORI RUGBY TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 11

MAORI RUGBY TOUR.

TROUBLE OVER SELECTION.

ADVISOBT BOARD PROTESTS,

N.Z. RUGBY UlN r lo>- INDICTED,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

GISBORNE, Sunday.

At the meeting vi the Maori Advisory Board, which coiirrols Maori Rugby, last evening, after the trial match, to make a first selection of the team to tour France, there were present Messrs. H. Love (. Wellington), E. Parata, Tamapori (East Coast), Pitt. Hall and G. Dansey iGisbornej. In addition Messrs. Henry Ruru iTe Karaka), and J. Reedy (Ruatoria i, had. been invited to hear the discussior. so as to report to their respect ive tribes. Mr. Put. who presided, asked Mr. Parata. who is one of the selectors, to enlighten members as to the progress of the selection. Mr. l'arata said the matter had been taken out of the hands of the Advisory Board by the New Zealand Rugby Union, which had nominated two selectors, Messrs. Parata and A. Taliarangi. of Wanganui. leaving the Maori Advisory Board to add another. The announcement came as a thunderbolt to members, for it was considered tha; all of the board would act as selectors. Mr. Dansey asked if Mr. Taharangi was appointed, why was he not there to ~ee the trial that day. The following motion was then carried unanimously: "That Mr. Parata. being a representative of the Maori footballers on the New Zealand Union, rv directed to brin™ under the notice of the union that the meeting of the Maori Advisory Board taKe< very strong exception to the a lion of the New Zealand Rugby Union in usurping the functions of the Maori Advisory Board. The board feels it more owing to the fact tiiat the New Zealand Rugby Union has not. and i< not. contributing one penny toward the rinan--ie> of the Maori tour to France, nor to the assembly expenses."

Pitt was chosen as the third selector.

Members of the board then discussed the managership of the team, to which position Mr. Parata had been appointed, ('pinion was expressed that it was a most unusual procedure to appoint a manager and then make him one of the sel?ctors. It was made clear that there was no objection personally to Mr. Parata, but on principle it was not advisable that the manager should be one of the selectors. The final selection of the team for France will be made after the Te Mori Rose Bowl match, to be played at Palmers'on North on Wednesday.

MAORI ADVISORY BOARD.

ITS METHODS CRITICISED. APATHY AND NEGLECT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.i "WELLINGTON, this day. In reference to a telegram from Gisborne, Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that the statement that the Union had appointed selectors for the Maori team was incorrect*; .-He commented rather severely on the apathy anfi inattention of the Maori officials, who never troubled to reply to letters. Mr. Dean said he had come to Levin to -attend a meeting of the Maori Advisory Board and, when he got there, found no meeting and that no arrangements had ever been made for it. The secretary was then changed, but the position was most unsatisfactory and. had matters been left to the Maori AdvisorT Board, with its haphazard and unbusinesslike methods, the tour would never have come off at all. The Union hopes that the remark, which ha« been made, that the tour will not cost it anythins. will provp correct, but it is not so sansruine as the promoters about it and. in any case, the board should be deeply indebted to the New Zealand TTnion for the excellent arrangements made for the tour by it and by Mr. C. J. Wray, its representative in London.

THE ITINERARY.

fßj- Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received advice from its representative in England, Mr. Wray, that the following fixtures have been arranged for the New Zealand Maori team on its tour of France and Britain: —

September 12 and 16.—Preliminary games. September 19.—V. Lyons. September 22.—V. Grenoble. September 26. —V. Marseilles. September 30. —V. Marbonne. October 3. —V. Toulouse. October 7.—V. Clarmont-Ferrand. October 10.— V. Paris. October 16.—V. Somerset. October 21. —V. Newport. October 23.—V. Swansea. October 27. —V. Yorkshire. October 30. —V. Harlequins. November 3. —V. Devon. November 6.—V. Cardiff. November 11. —V. Goucester. November 13. —V. Llanelly. November 18.—V. East Midlands. November 20.—V. London County. November 24.—V. Hampshire. November 27.—V. Leicester. December 1. —V. Lancashire. December 5. —Y. Bordeaux. December 9.—V. Limoges. December 12. —Y. Bayonne. December 16.—V. Pau. December 19.—V. Beziers. December 26. —Y. Paris. The Hampshire match has not been finally settled.