Mr M. R. Love Replies To Critics Of Rugby Views

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 13

Mr M. R. Love Replies To Critics Of Rugby Views

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 21. 1 A statement containing his i reply to critics of the declaration • that he was in favour of racial i discrimination in Rugby was ; issued today by Mr M. R. Love.! chairman of the Maori Advisoryi Board and a member of the New' Zealand Rugby Union. Mr Love in his statement said:■ ••Would there have been the same violent reaction to my remark at the New Zealand Rugby Council’s meeting on June 12, if I had used the words ‘social preferment' instead of the monstrous I term ‘racial discrimination.’ “It is obvious to all that use of the word ’race' is now so charged with emotional force, that objective and reasoned discussion of its | significance in relation to air, social problem is well night impos- i sible. And to try to compound Maoris with the 1960 tour ot South Africa, the N.Z.R.U. and its Maori Advisory Eoard is tantamount to triggering off the mechanism of an H-bomb. “It is obvious, too, that as in many other causes the ‘do-gooder racial ’experts’ have succeeded in exploiting the ignorance ’this word should be given the Concise Oxford Dictionary meaning) of many people, including some of my own race. "History relates, and world events, stripped of their disguises, today still show, that the opportunist propagandist for economic exploitation or political domination gains his end more easily if one group of people knows little or nothing about another, or is led into wrong beliefs.

"Without moralizing further, it I; is important that my position beii made clear before this acri-|! monious argument descends to an j even lower level than that it has) now reached. I Three Matters “It is my considered opinion that this controversy, at its present stage, comprises three distinct matters which are: “The decision not to include Maori players in the New Zealand team to South Africa in 1960 —taken by those officials democratically elected to make it—and my role as the Maori representative on the N.Z.R.U. | “The impact of the above de-1 cision on New Zealanders who' oppose the South African. domestic policy of apartheid. The clouding with hysteria oi ■ the situation confronting the , Maori people in relation to racial preferment, adjustment. | even discrimination or what- i ever it can be called. “Dealing with the first matter, the decision made by the N.Z.R.U I was with the approval of the { Maori Advisory Board, an ad hoc ! body of the union, and I, a mem-I her of both the union and the< board, support that decision ; controversial though it is. “To reach my position on the i N.Z.R.U. I had first to be a financial member of an affiliated ; Rugby union club, and I am a i vice-president of the Onslow) Rugby Football Club after 13 years in active membership as schoolboy coach, coach, club captain. and committee chairman. ’ have also kent up to date my honorary subscription to the Petone Rugby Football Club which I first joined in 1920. In the normal wav my club recommended me to the Wellington Rusby Union for a highei office in " Rugbv administration and in 1952, with the support o' the South Canterbury Rugbj Union, I was successful in the ballot at the annual meeting of the N.Z.R.U. in that year.

Only Nominee ‘ In recent years when no ballot has been necessary. I have beer the only nominee from the 26 affiliated Rugby unions which have the equal right of nomination. My position then, till the next annual meeting of the N.Z.R.U. in 1960. is quite clear. “On the second matter, my view is that Rugby administration, at the New Zealand team level oi ■ down to the low-er training college and other Rugby team levels can not and will not on the present method of approach, affect in any way what South Africa's United Nations representative. Mi Eric H. Louw. said in October 1958. at the General Assembly meeting: ‘Like all nations, great or small. South Africa can not countenance such an invasion of their sovereign rights or such continued interference in. its domestic affairs.’ “This declaration has been repeated constantly by other. South African statesmen. “Whether I would join a crusade against this policy is a matter for my own conscience, but I certainly would not bring Rugbv considerations into it even if I could become implicated in the domestic affairs of South Africa.

"So far as the third matter is concerned, spokesmen from tribal committees and the King movement. the Maori Women's Welfare League, a trust board, and others who represent major and minor Maori groups, have all raised a tirade against my statement that 1 favour racial discrimination in Rugby.

Special Acts “Let me ask all those of my own race whose anger is directed against me. do they not speak with the authority of special acts of Parliament?

"Tribal committees have been set up to enable tribal groups to | organise apart from the community. The Maori Women's Welfare ! League is organised and staffed; by the Department of Maori i Affairs for a similar purpose. i “Even the organisation ir which my learned and highly qualified friend. Dr. M. Winiata is secretary—the Council of the King Movement —is anothei division of Maoridom set up foi the purpose of keeping togethei a Maori unit within this com munity. “I could set down many other divisions or segregated units of Maoridom which are ably and actively supported by the Maori people, but of course I dare not suggest these groups are discriminatory because of the emotiona' horror that this word evokes. “I could mention that at the last session of Parliament, attended by the four representatives of the Maori people, elected and placed there by Maori voters, there was approved, with European support, the expenditure for the benefit of the Maori race of a sum exceeding £5 million. “Do my Maori critics say that

during the last session the Maori should not have expected the £985.000 made available lor the vote of Maori Affairs in which was included a sum of £25.000 for the subsidising of activities of Maori tribal committees. ' £32.000 for the payment ol • | allowances and salaries of Maori ; Land Court Judges? “Do they say the sum of £3.5 j million should not have been made available to the Maori land settlement account of which' £573,000 was for Maori housing? Even to the Maori trustee was i made available a sum of £ 100,000. Maori schools were allocated more ■ than £500,c00. | "These amounts total more ■ than £5 million and were made available to the Maori people. : separate and distinct from the rest of the community. Against this expenditure was revenue (amounting to £2.8 million and of this sum £2.7 million was credited as revenue from more than £5O million which has been expended on Maoris over the last 25 years. “Despite the spate of argument against my statement supporting racial discrimination in Rugby. ' there is little substance of this ‘ hostile criticism which suggests < that my view has been examined j impartially. "My vociferous detractors. Maori and European, pose, as ■ opponents of racial discrimination i and they say they want none. , even if it is favourable to the i Maori race. “Hollow Argument” "But expunge from the statutes

any preferential legislation dealing with Maori land, Maori housing, the Maori Land Court. Maori trust boards, the Maori welfare officers. Maori schools. Maori trust board, the Maori Affairs Department, and Maori Parliamentary representatives, and their argument against me falls hollow to the ground. "And would there follow the absorption of all Maori pastors, ministers. missionary workers, into the ordinary structure of the Church? Would private Maori schools and other separate Maori oiganisations be utilised for the general community? Indeed, would there be any more Maori Rugby teams, let alone a Maori representative on the N.Z.R.U.? “I totally oppose any move which might bring these drastic changes about because I honestly and seriously believe that Maori activities, in social life at least, must be kept intact and separate if the people so desire. “I will continue to support the social preferment of Maori activities, the increase of Maori members of Parliament in keeping with the growth of the Maori population, and the appointment of a statutory Minister representing the Maori race who would be Sable to take up the sword of a St j George at a time like this when | the need again is greatest."