ALL BLACK TOUR ISSUE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28963, 3 August 1959, Page 5

ALL BLACK TOUR ISSUE

Minister’s Statement “Simply Not True”

The implication of a statement ' on Friday by the Rev. Maurice | Hodder, of the Trinity Congre-I gational Church, was that Communists selected the issue of alleged discrimination against Maoris in ■ the selection of the 1960 All Black 1 Rugby tour to South Africa, said the secretary of the' National Council of Churches (the Rev. A. A. Brash) yesterday. Mr Hodder had said that “the i churches today are being used to ■ brainwash New Zealand with I Communist-inspired issues.” I "It is simply not true that the i Communists selected this issue,” !said Mr Brash. “It began last 'year by a series of statements! from Christian churches and it been supported by numerous res-| ponsible organisations and I individuals. ’ "To suggest that all these leaders 1 •of the churches are under the i influence of Communist doctrine! 'or infiltration, and to suggest that I they are trying to brainwash New Zealanders when they are simply fighting for justice for the Maori people on the basis of the New Testament principles about the meaning of human life is just fantastic." said Mr Brash. ■ On Mr Hodder’s statement that I the Rev. J. S. Somerville would [not be "speaking on behalf of my I church.” at the tour protest meeti ing in Wellington on August 12, I Mr Brash said that although it was not possible for Mr Somerville to jspeak officially on behalf of every I individual of every church. Mr Somerville could “at least declare the clear opinion that has been I issued in almost identical terms by the vast majority of church (Courts in New Zealand, by the leaders of eight churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, land by the life and work conferlence called by the National Council of Churches in Auckland 'in May.” [ Mr Brash added:—“Surely it is not unreasonable to claim that in a general way, Mr Somerville is speaking on behalf of church opinion in New Zealand if he takes this clear point of view.”