Maori Issue May Arise Again In 1970

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 11

Maori Issue May Arise Again In 1970

“rpHEY are not dead; they 1 just slumber.” This epitaph might well apply to the relations between the South African Rugby Board and the New Zealand Rugby Union.

When the. All. Blacks played the Springboks in the fourth test at Eden Park last year the singing of “Now Is The Hour", by the 65,000 spectators had more than the normal nostalgia for even then it was expected that New Zealand would not carry out its commitment of touring South

Africa in 1967 because of the South African Government’s attitude towards

Maoris being included in the New Zealand team. The council of the New Zealand Rugby Union decided on February 25 that the tour would be postponed, thus confirming the views that had been felt by most of the New Zealand public. -'

Since that date much has happened. Mr T. C. Morrison and Mr C. A. Blazey, the senior members of the council, have met the South

African Board and attended a meeting of the International Rugby Board. The upshot of their talks with Rugby officials culminated in fee announcement that New Zealand would tour the British Isles, France and Canada in 1967 and that France instead of touring New Zealand in 1970 was now coming in 1968. Nineteen hundred and seventy will thus be the crucial date for relations between New Zealand and South African Rugby. It did not need any great psychic powers to understand that 1970 had been left open purposefully so the rapproachement between the two countries can be brought to fruition. Although New Zealand had to cancel , its 1967 tour

there has still remained the closest friendship between South African and New Zealand Rugby and Rugby officials of both countries will be working to reinstate the All-Black-Springbok clashes. At present it cannot even be guessed whether the South African Government will have a change of heart and ameliorate the present situation whereby the New Zealand Rugby Union is adamant that Maoris should be included in a team to tour South Africa. During the next four years much could happen. In that time a New Zealand Maori team will have toured overseas.and it is possible that by 1970 the climate on racial matters may have changed so that the New

Zealand publie may accept an all-white team being sent in 1970. On the other hand opinions on racial matters may have hardened and there could even be more opposition to a team being sent without Maoris. In the end the matter must lie with the South African government. It is no secret that there are some influential South Africans working for a fully-representative team from New Zealand to tour South Africa and it can only be hoped that they, with the help of the New Zealand Rugby Union, will succeed in their avowed intention of having Maoris play in South Africa.