South African Govt. Discusses Maoris Touring In 1967

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30447, 22 May 1964, Page 15

South African Govt. Discusses Maoris Touring In 1967

[By Our Rugby Correspondent]

„-u T i h i e • Visi \°, f thr€ £ leadin 2 officials of the New Zealand Rngbv T. C. Morrison, T. H. Pearce and G. S. • uu** 2l° c . recent 'y was principally to attend the jubilee o the South African Rugby Board, and also to attend a meeting of the International Rugby Board.

But important though those matters may have been, it is certain that there was another purpose behind their visit: to discuss a question which is of vital importance to New Zealand Rugby. Will Maoris be included in the All Black team to tour South Africa in 1967?

This became more apparent when Mr Morrison told ■The Press” yesterday that he had had unofficial talks with South African Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Min-

ister (Dr. Verwoerd) during his stay in South Africa. He said he had told them that there was an “overwhelming desire by the New Zealand public to have Maoris

in the next All Black team to South Africa.” Mr Morrison also told “The Press”: “Personally, I think that Maoris will be included in the 1967 team.” If his assumption is correct then indeed he has brought back “peace with honour.” There was no doubt that the controversy which arose over the exclusion of Maoris from the 1960 team to tour South Africa was a question which neither the New Zealand Rugby Union hor perhaps even the New Zealand Government would wish to face again. In 1960, Mr C. S. Hogg, then chairman of the New Zealand Union, said that Maoris would tour South Africa in 1967 and since then New Zealand and South African Rugby officials have been patiently and quietly working to achieve that end. First Move Made The first move came from South Africa when it invited two prominent Maoris associated with Rugby, Mr R. M. Love and Mr P. T. Walsh, to attend the South African Rugby Board’s celebrations. But this was not quite the spontaneous gesture it seemed to be when the announcement was made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union on April 2. It appears that negotiations for Maoris to be

present at the celebrations had been under way for some time. But what was significant

was that the South African Government granted visas for Messrs Love and Walsh, which, it could be assumed, was tacit acceptance that Maori Rugby players could also be granted visas if they were chosen for a tour. In fact, it can be assumed that the invitation to Mr Walsh and Mr Love was to test South African opinion of Maoris as a basis of having Maori players in the 1967 team. According to Mr Morrison, Mr Love and Mr Walsh received such a spontaneous and pleasant welcome everywhere they went that there was no doubt in his mind that the South African public would have no hesitation in welcoming Maori players in a New Zealand Rugby team. Govt. Approval Needed But the New Zealand Rugby officials are well aware that if Maoris are to tour there must be South African Government approval. If the matter had had to be decided purely and simply between the respective Rugby Unions then Maoris would probably have been in every All Black team that has toured South Africa. That is why negotiations have gone past the South African Rugby Board and moved into Government circles.

Mr Morrison said that until the South African Rugby Union formally invited New Zealand to tour in 1967, which

would happen in about another year, it would not be known how the Maori Rugby question would be resolved.

This will give a breathing space for the South African Government to decide whether Maori Rugby players can be allowed to tour South Africa without cutting completely across the official apartheid policy. That decision, according to informed circles, will be made far sooner than in a year’s time. ■lf it is a negative, then it is almost certain that New Zealand will not tour without Maoris.

Opinion Hardened In 1960 the slogan, “No Maoris, no tour,” gained considerable support. In the last four years public opinion on racial matters has hardened, and although the New Zealand union showed once that it will stand up against public opinion, officials are now against the exclusion of Maoris from All Black teams to South Africa. If the South African Government will not permit Maoris to tour that must be the end of the great Rugby rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa.