Maoris Excluded From 1960 Team

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 14

Maoris Excluded From 1960 Team

(A'ew Zealand Press Association)-

WELLINGTON, June 12.

“The New Zealand Rugby Union has decided not to include Maori players in the New Zealand team to visit South Africa in 1960.” A statement to this effect was issued by the council of the union today after a discussion in committee.

‘‘This decision has been arrived at after making full inquiries into the whole position and after consultation with the Maori Advisory Board,” said a statement issued by the meeting. “In reaching this decision, the union has been concerned with the best interests of its Maori players.

“The union must make it quite clear that the South African Rugby Board, in issuing its invitation, left the composition of the team entirely to the discretion of the New Zealand Union.

“Acting in close collaboration with the Maori Advisory Board, the union has always adopted a policy which gives the Maori footballer advantages over the pakeha, advantages which far outweigh any problematic disadvantage he may suffer as a result of the present decision. “The decision by the New Zealand Union means that the same policy will apply to the selection of the 1960 New Zealand team to South Africa as applied to the 1919 Army team and the 1928 and 1949 teams to tour South Africa.

“The New Zealand Union, of which the Maori Advisory Board is a very important part, is quite united in this decision.”