Protests Against 1960 Tour Decision Mounting

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 12

Protests Against 1960 Tour Decision Mounting

Pressure for a reversal of the decision to exclude Maoris from the All Blacks to tour South Africa in 1960 or, failing this, the abandonment of the tour continues to be exerted by church organisations, trade unions and branches of the Citizens’ All Black Tour Association.

Yesterday five district synods of the Methodist Church, the Federation of Labour, the chairman of the Citizens’ All Black Tour Association (Mr Rolland O’Regan), the Labourers’ Federation, and the Canterbury Storemen, Packers’ and Warehouse Employees’ I nion issued statements condemning racial discrimination in sport.

So far the New Zealand Rugby Union’s decision has not been raised in Parliament and only two politicians have raised the matter outside the House Mr Tirikatene, the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs, who spoke against the Rugby Union’s decision, and the Prime Minister (Mr Nash), who has mainly confined himself to non-commital replies to questions on the controversy.

Mr O'Regan yesterday asked how much Maori blood a New Zealander must have to be excluded from the New Zealand team to tour South Africa. “This is a most delicate and, in fact, distasteful subject,” he said. “We fee] it imperative to point out, however, that these issues provide abundant evidence of the dangers implicit in the Rugby Union’s decision, and bears out the contention of the association that the decision. although directly related to Rugby, goes far deeper and vitally affects the New Zealand way of life. “When it made its decision to exclude Maori players, the Rugby Union committed itself to defining a Maori for purposes of the tour, and we are keenly awaiting its announcement of this definition. “Will the Rugby Union, for example, follow the census procedure, whereby those of half or more Maori blood are considered Maoris; or will it follow the electoral laws, whereby those of more than half Maori blood are considered Maoris, and those of halfblood have the option; or will it follow the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act, whereby those with any Maori blood at all are considered Maoris; or will it have to follow some South African law in this matter?”

Other statements issued yesterday by the various organisations included: The Rev. Dr. M. A. McDowell, chairman of the Nelson Methodist Synod, said the agitation against the N.Z.R.U.’s decision must not be allowed to die. “We are being matched by the people of the East.” he said, “and if we betray our Maori brethren and our faith as Christian people by being indifferent to the issue, then we are making a grave error which may have serious repercussions.” The Synod gave its support to the move to have the decision changed.

Mr K. McL. Baxter, secretary of the Federation of Labour, said the views of the federation in condemning the attitude of the Rugby Union to racial discrimination had been widely broadcast in Europe and throughout the world by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The federation had informed the I.C.F.T.U. of its stand in New Zealand against racial discrimination, and the confederation had replied expressing its pleasure at the vigorous fight being conducted against discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, national extraction, social origin or political opinion.

The Wellington Methodist Synod, on the second day of its annual meeting called on the N.Z.R.U. to decline to send a team to South Africa until Maoris qualified for selection could be included without fear of racial prejudice. “Synod appeals to our people to associate themselves actively with movements designed to express public concern in this matter,” said the statement. ”It welcomes the evidence of a growing concern throughout the world over racial discrimination in international sport.” The Northland Methodist Synod passed a resolution supporting the Olympic principle in international' sport, and asking Methodists to express their condemnation of the N.Z.R.U. decisions through petitions.

The North Canterbury Methodist Synod’s Maori mission, in its annual report, said the Maori people were deeply disturbed by the N.Z.R.U.’s decision. “We can only express our deep regret that such a difficult decision has been made with such little evident awareness of the depth of the issue involved." The Taranaki-Wanganui Methodist Synod in a resolution said it was deeply concerned that the N.Z.R.U. had evidently chosen to ignore the protests. The Synod said it believes the union should issue a statement assuring the citizens of New Zealand that it had noted the protest and was aware of the implications of its decision and stating whether in the light of these, found it intended to persist with its decisions. The Canterbury Storemen. Packers and Warehouse Employees’ .Union in a statement issued by its secretary (Mr J. L. Laby) said it deplored the deci-i sion. Maoris should be included in the team. They could decline to make the tour, but they were; entitled to be selected.

The Secretary of the Labourers’ Federation (Mr P. M. Butler), supported the views expressed this week by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (the Rt. Rev/ Dr. J. D. Salmond) and said it was unfortunate that the issue; should have come at this partic-j ular period as undoubtedly it was being used by the enemies of democracy to discredit New Zealand. ‘‘l agree with Dr. Salmond that the future of this country is integrated with the future of the peoples of Southeast Asia. If they slip into the toils of totalitarianism, it will be impossible for us to remain free."