TEAM SELECTION 'Same Treatment For Maoris'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 16

TEAM SELECTION 'Same Treatment For Maoris '

<New Zealand Prest Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. Maoris would be treated exactly the same as Europeans in selections for the 1967 Ru'*’”-. to>”- of South Africa if they were invited, the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr T. C. Morrison) said tonight.

However, he said assurances by the president of the South African Rugby Board. Dr. Danie Craven, that Maoris would be welcomed on the same footing were “unofficial.”

“We would be more than happy to select Maoris on the same basis as Europeans for this tour,” Mr Morrison said.

“We would welcome a South African policy that allowed us to do so. “But till we receive a written invitation for this tour we will not be aware of the full context of South Africa's intentions,” Mr Morrison said. Dr. Craven told a press conference in Christchurch today that South Africa's Rugby public would welcome the Maoris with open arms. If they went to South Africa they would be treated exactly the same as Europeans, he said. But he would not say directly that the official invitation to be sent in April w’ould be to both races. “PRECEDENT SET”

In Wellington, Mr Morrison said South Africa had already set a precedent for treating Maoris as Europeans. This was last year, when Mr M. R. Love, a New Zealand administrator, and P. T.

Walsh, an All Black, attended South Africa’s jubilee celebrations.

“I travelled with Ralph Love and Pat Walsh in South Africa and experienced firsthand the overwhelming hospitality and friendship shown to them,” Mr Morrison said. “They were treated exactly the same as myself and other members of our party," he said.

Mr Morrison said he was also aware that South Africa had agreed to classify a group

of Japanese sportsmen as Europeans so that they could compete in the republic. The chairman of the Citizens’ All Black Tour Association, Mr R. O'Regan, said tonight it was obvious the South African Rugby Board would welcome a fully representative New Zealand team and felt it could handle situations arising from this. It appreciated New Zealand public opinion and was willing to meet it to keep the test series going and for the good of Rugby, said Mr O’Regan. South African policy towards Maoris rested with the South African Government, and not with the Rugby Board. Mr O’Regan said that if the South African Government decision was not known by March, the public had a right to ask the New Zealand Rugby Union to declare its attitude unequivocally.