Races Separated When N.Z. Man Weds African

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 13

Races Separated When N.Z. Man Weds African

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, May 9. Race prejudice marred the wedding in Southern Rhodesia yesterday of a New Zealander and his African bride, the "Daily Mall” reported. The New Zealander, Stuart Fuller -Sandys, aged 50, an agricultural assistant in Southern Rhodesia, married a 22-year-old Matabele girl, Margaret Dube. The "Daily Mail” Salisbury correspondent said Fuller-Sandys, a kinsman of the British Commonwealth

Secretary. Mr Duncan Sandys, had been suspended from duty by the Southern Rhodesian Government’s Native Affairs Department because of the wedding. Most wedding invitation® issued to his European friends and colleagues were rejected, the correspondent said.

Only 14 whites attended the wedding, held on the front verandah of FirilerSandys's ranch house in the

bush hundreds of miles from Salisbury. A barbed-wire fence had separated the guests <he African® from the whites, the correspondent said. On the outside of the fence were the dancing, singing, drum-beating tribesmen and labourers. On the inside, drinking tea around a snowy wedding cake, were the bride and bridegroom—and 14 loyal white friend*. The correspondent said Fuller-Sandys did not invite the bride’s parent* to the wedding. Fuller-Sandy* explained: "They don’t understand English. It was far better that they did not attend.”

The bride was given away by an uncle who is a schoolteacher.

FuUer-Sandys paid £36 bride price for his wife according to tribal custom. Reuter said Fuller-Sandy*, who came from Auckland, made hi« first trip back to New Zealand in 23 years two yearn ago. He mud he planned to take hi* bride to New Zeeland soon.