“Slur On Maori Rugby Players”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 17

“Slur On Maori Rugby Players”

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON,

A slur on the Maori Rugby player and an insult to South Africa, is how the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (Mr T. C. Morrison) has described a challenge that assurances should be received from the South African authorities that Maoris will be welcome in 1970.

Mr Morrison yesterday replied to allegations made on Sunday night by the secre-

tary of the Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality (Mr T. O. Newnham), and a recent challenge from Mr R. Thompson, a reader in sociology at Canterbury University. M.C.C. Tour Mr Newnham was reported in Auckland as saying that the exclusion of B. D’Oliveira from the M.C.C. team to tour South Africa had ominous significance for New Zealand sports administrators and he took up Mr Thompson’s challenge that the New Zealand Rugby Union should say whether it had received assurances that Maoris would be welcome in the All Black side to tour South Africa in 1970.

“We challenge the N.Z.R.F.U. and, indeed, all sports bodies which seek to arrange tours to South Africa, to say whether or not they are covertly negotiating to leave Maoris out of the touring sides,” said Mr Newnham. “I cannot think of anything more insulting than that we should now ask our hosts to state whether all members of the New Zealand team will be welcome and I feel that the attitude of Messrs Newnham and Thompson is, in effect, a slur on our Maori Rugby players,” said Mr Morrison today. The South African Rugby Board had invited the New Zealand union to send a fully representative team in 1970.

“This invitation was received in April this year and was unanimously accepted by the delegates to the annual meeting. “I stated at that meeting that the 1970 All Black side would be selected on the same basis as those chosen to tour the British Isles last year. This means that Maoris good enough for selection would be included,” said Mr Morrison. He referred to the South African Rugby Board’s jubilee in 1964 and said that, along with representatives of other Rugby-playing countries, New Zealand was represented by officials and players. “Mr M. R. Love and Mr P.

T. Walsh were members of that New Zealand representation and these two Maori gentlemen were received with equality, friendship and courtesy, along with all others who attended these celebrations.”

1970 Team

Mr Morrison said he was certain all members of the 1970 team would be treated as equal. “The N.Z.R.F.U. accepted in good faith the invitation for a fully representative team to tour in 1970 and I repeat that it would be an insult to now ask our hosts to stipulate whether Maoris will be welcome,” Mr Morrison said.