SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28939, 6 July 1959, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

Maori Students’

Resolution (New ’ Zealand. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 5. Maori students from the four universities, the training colleges and Massey Agricultural College in conference at the week-end called on the New Zealand Rugby Union either to rescind its motion to exclude Maoris from the 1960 tour of South Africa or abandon the tour. More than 100 students voted on the motion which members said represented Maori opinion throughout the country. The conference also offered its support to the recently-formed Citizens’ All Black Tour Association in its efforts to oppose racial discrimination in Rugby. Earlier Professor L. H. Palmer, associate professor of Asian studies at Victoria University, told the students Asia would not be surprised at the N.Z.R.U.’s decision because Asians found it difficult to believe the white man could think well of anyone with a coloured skin. The issue was a moral one, he said. The abandoning of the tour would not help change South Africa’s attitude, but it would definitely benefit and interest the coloured South Africans and the negro nations. An. invitation to a Rugby union representative to speak at a panel discussion on the 1960 tour was declined.