COLOUR LINE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 11

COLOUR LINE

Maori-Springbok Rugby Problem POSITION OF N.Z.R.U. Arawa Memorial Not Yet Received VIEWS OF MANY OFFICIALS Explaining that the union had not yet received the memorial, Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, yesterday declined to comment on the statement issued by the Arawa Maoris from Rotorua that members of that tribe would not participate in matches with, nor receptions to, the Springbolts next year, because of the rankling memory of incidents which occurred when the South Africans were in New Zealand in 1031, a stand since endorsed by the Akarana Maori Association in Auckland. Mr. Dean has already made a statement setting out that so fa r as the N.Z.R.U. is concerned Maoris will not be excluded from provincial or international teams to play the Springboks because of their colour, but that it is a policy matter still to be decided whether "the Springboks will play a New Zealand Maori team or one from New Zealand Universities. Mr. Dean then said there was no ground for any suggestion that the Springboks would not play against Maoris. An announcement that the Maoris will refuse to play against the Springboks will create a new situation which, it is gathered, will probably be attacked by negotiation between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Maori Advisory Board. The Maori Advisory Board has no administrative authority but acts in a consulting capacity on questions concerning Maori football with the N.Z.R.U. It was stated yesterday that after receiving the memorial the N.Z.R.U. would consider the position and if necessary consult the Maori Advisory Board. If asked for any advice the Maori Advisory Board would consider the question and give an indication of its views to the N.Z.R.U.. which would then determine its attitude, taking into consideration the opinions of the Maori Advisory Board. Sir Apirana Ngata is chairman of the Maori Advisory Board and Mr. King! Tahiwi is secretary, and the representative of the board on the management committee of the N.Z.R.U. Both declined yesterday to discuss the possible repercussions of the ultimatum from the Arawas. The Arawa tribe proper embrace" about 2000 to 3000 Maoris, living mainly in Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty. The 1921 Springboks played Bay of Plenty, at Rotorua, winning 17-9, and New Zealand Maoris, at Napier, winning 9-8. The 1928 and 1931 Australian teams each played a New Zealand Maori side, as did the 1930 British team.

SUPPORT FOR ARAWAS

Akarana Association’s Attitude By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 23. The Akarana Maori Association has decided to give unqualified support to the Arawa Maoris in asking the New Zealand Rugby Union that no Maori player be' asked to play against the Springboks, owing to the humiliations suffered on the previous visit. An official of the association said today that for a long time there has been a deep-rooted feeling that the colour line has been drawn so far as the Maoris are concerned, and that the New Zealand Rugby Union had not given the natives the sympathetic support they should have received. Re believed that the feeling expressed at Rotorua would have the united support of the Maori people throughout the Dominion. If the South Africans had any feelings against the Maoris it would be far better for the Maoris not to take part in receptions or anything else that might mar the feelings between the pakehas of New Zealand and their visitors. Any attempt to draw the colour line would be resented by the Maori race, which had produced men of the cultural plane of Sir James Carroll, Sir Maui Pomare and Sir Apirana Ngata. The official added that when the New Zealand team toured South Africa in 1928 no Maoris were included, despite the standard of play of men like Nepia, Mill and others. A meeting of th e Akarana association has been called to discuss the question. •

“THE MAORIS RIGHT”

Avoiding Unpleasantness AUCKLAND OPINIONS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 24. With the realisation that the problem confronting the New Zealand Rugby Union about the Maoris and the Springboks'is one of greatest delicacy. Auckland Rugby officials ate reluctant to comment publicly on the decision of the Arawa Maoris, who have asked that they should play no part in the tour of the Springboks to New Zealand next year. “It is entirely a matter for the New Zealand Union," said Mr. Arthur Baker, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union. “The situation is so delicate that I think it would be unwise for me to comment” Officially no opinion on the decision of the Maoris has been expressed, but conversations in Rugby circles revealed widely-varied opinions. There were some who held that the Maoris would insult the Springboks by their decision but there were others who took the view that New Zealand should be allowed to play who they liked against the Springboks and there were a few who believed that perhaps it would be nnwise to play a New Zealand Maori team against the South Africans, but held the opinion that there was no reason why 'provincial and All Black teams should not field Maoris if their standard of play warranted their selection.

Two men with intimate knowledge of the problem—for the reason that they have both toured South Africa with New Zealand Rugby teams—took the

view that there was no reason why the Maoris should not play against the Springboks in New Zealand, but they were emphatic that it would be impossible to take Maoris in a team to South Africa. They were A. A. Lucas, wing-forward in the New Zealand Army team which toured South Africa in 1919, and F. W. Lucas, centre-three-quarter in the 1928 All Blacks.. When the Springboks toured in 1921 there was a good deal of feeling between the Maoris and the visitors, reaching a climax when the Springboks played the Maoris at Napier, winning 9-8. Mr. T. Jones, manager of the 1920 All Blacks to Australia, who was one of the line umpires in that match, said that it would be unwise for the teams to meet again in a special contest. He saw no reason, however, why outstanding Maori players should not' represent their provinces or New Zealand. Public opinion, he said, would almost demand Inclusion of a player like “Tori” Reid, who played in all four internationals on the British tour of the 1935 All Blacks. From all opinions expressed in Rugby circles to-day there emerged only one view—that the Maoris were right, One man, who since 1921 has studied the problem closely, said he was convinced that possible unpleasantness would be avoided if the Maoris took no part in matches or official functions while the Springboks were touring the Dominion. The Maoris would then not be in a position to receive any slight at the hands of the visitors whether intended or unintended. He could see the Maori point of view and he could see also that of the Springboks, and he pointed out that unless one had been to South Africa one was not fully qualified in arriving at a reasonable conclusion.

“ATTITUDE JUSTIFIED”

Manawatu Official Opinion

Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, July 24. Commenting to “The Dominion” on the attitude adopted by the Arawa Maoris regarding the forthcoming tour of the Springboks. Mr. A. M. Ongley,' president of the Manawatu Rugby Union, said it was difficult for New Zealanders to appreciate the full extent of the colour problem as It existed in South Africa. “For the Springboks to adopt such a policy in South Africa against the Maoris will be appreciated,” he said, "but I do not think they should take such action here.” Mr. Ongley pointed out that Manawatu played the Springboks as Manawhenua, and several Maoris were Included in the team. “I do not recall any action or statement made at the time to which the Maoris could take exception, but the match at Napier appeared to be something of a ‘donnybrook.’ Personally I feel that if the Springboks treat Maoris as they should be treated in New Zealand then there is nothing for the Maoris to take exception to, but after the treatment on the last tour I feel that their attitude is justified, but I also feel that unless there is some actual insult or objection expressed by the tourists again, 'then perhaps the Maoris are not justified in refusing to play the visitors as long as the Springboks are willing to play the Maoris. “I can see no.reason,” Mr. Ongley concluded, “for the South Africans adopting an attitude hostile to the Maoris in New Zealand.” Similar views were expressed by Mr. J. H. White, secretary of the Manawatu Union, who said he felt that under the circumstances the Maoris were quite justified in their action. Mr. White added that after all the game was played for sport; one did not play because of one’s opponent but for sport, and if the Springboks were not willing to play Maoris because of their colour then it was no reason for them to slight our native race. It was a very unfortunate state of affairs, but he fully upheld the Maoris in adopting such an attitude and making their position clear with a view to avoiding a recurrence on a future occasion.

WANGANUI VIEWS

Confidence in N.Z.R.U. Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, July 24. Commenting on the Arawa Maori memorial of protest to the N.Z.R.U. Dr. G. J. Adams,* chairman of the Wanganui Rugby Union’s management committee and a former president of the N.Z.R.U., said he was inclined to think the less comment made at present the better. “It is an extremely angry situation, and one which will require very tactful handling,” he said. “A colour question within certain parts of the Empire is unfortunate, especially in Rugby. The Sprlngbok-Maori situation may become aggravated as the tour progresses unless something is done now, but I am sure the N.Z.R.U. will decide upon some helpful counter. I feel that if the South Africans made some overture expressing their appreciation of any misunderstanding which may have occurred in their 1921 tour and followed it up with a request for Maoris to be included in the teams to piny against them, this will restore harmony between the two races.”

“The Maoris are quite justified in refusing to play aga’nst the South Africans,” said Mr. G. H. Pownall, a former president of the N.Z.R.U. and a life member of the Wanganui Rugby Union, “but it is an awful pity for the colour question to be raised again.’’ He said the matter. In his opinion, arose from South Africans misunderstanding or misinterpreting the relationship between the Maori and the pakeha, thinking it comparable with the relationship between the white and the coloured races in South Africa. “I think that' if the same 1921 Springbok team could visit New Zealand to-day the players would have entirely different feelings toward the Maoris,” he said. “I know that Mr. 11. C. Bennett, manager of that team, left the Dominion with a very high regard for the Maoris. South Africans, I think, would lie very sorry indeed if such things were raised against them to-day.”

TROUBLE UNLIKELY Possible Change in African Outlook Dominion Special Service. New Plymouth, July 24. “If the Maoris don’t want to play the Springboks, that would be an easy way out of any trouble, but in my opinion the Springboks would not object now to playing against Maoris.” said the Hon. J. McLeod, for many years president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and now a member of the management committee of the N.Z.R.U. “I think any unpleasantness which arose on the last tour of New Zealand was due to an Inability through ignorance, perhaps excusable, to appreciate

the point of view of the white toward the Maori in New Zealand. I expect this has been very thoroughly talked over among their players and officials since then, and that there would not be anything like the misunderstanding there was last time in New Zealand. They know our customs now, whereas they didn’t before.” He thought it unfortunate the problem had been raised by the Maoris, but considered it’ probable there wouid not be any unpleasantness between the Maoris and the Springboks in 1937. “Maoris can’t very well go to Africa, but there does not seem to be. any reason why they cannot play Africans in New Zealand,” he said.

“TOUCHY SUBJECT” Wairarapa Opinion Dominion Special Service. Masterton, July 24. Stating that he had his own views on the question but that they were purely his views and might be right or wrong, Mr. E. McKenzie, of Carterton, chairman of the New Zealand selection committee, declined to comment for publication on the announcement that the Arawa Maoris would not play against the Springboks or help to entertain them in New Zealand. Mr. G. D. Wilson, chairman of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, also declined to comment, and Mr. H. J. McKenzie, the Wairarapa selector, said it was a touchy subject and he would rather say nothing.

HAWKE’S BAY VIEW Arawa Boycott May Not Be Supported Dominion Special Service. Napier, July 24. Rugby Union leaders here decline to comment for publication on the Arawa ultimatum, but it is stated that it is quite possible that not a great deal of support will be given the boycott of the Springboks by many of the Maoris of Hawke’s Bay, even though much of the unpleasantness of the previous tour occurred in the game at Napier. MAORIS SUPPORTED

Africans Should Play As We Play OTAGO SENTIMENT Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, July 24. “It is a very unfortunate development whichever way you look at it, but one certainly cannot take any exception to the dignified attitude of the Maoris,” said Mr, H. Harris, a member of the committee of management of the Otago Rugby Union. His opinion on the difficulty is of more than ordinary value as he was co-manager with Mr. W. T. (Ned) Parata, of the .Maori team which toured in France ana England in 1926. He has been president of the New Zealand union and was also one of the selectors of the 1905 All Blacks.

“In no part of the British-speaking world, except South Africa, is there any objection to Maoris playing with or against the white race,” he said. “The Maoris are a proud people, proud of their age-long traditions, and their standards of intelligence and culture are far beyond that of any other native race. In New Zealand they are intermarried with Europeans and are to-day recognised as one of ourselves. Tn the Great War they fought side by side with the New Zealand troops.

“As footballers we have always welcomed them into New Zealand representative teams, and many of them have gained fine reputations as players. George Nepia, for instance, was one of the most popular footballers who have ever played for New Zealand overseas, and his appearances in England with the 1924 All Black team were always a source of great Interest to the spectators.”

Mr. Harris said that the logical position, as it appeared to him, was that if South Africa were sending a team to New Zealand her players should be prepared to play teams here as they were played by New Zealanders. As co-manager of the touring Maori team he had been brought Into close contact with Maoris and their conduct both on and off the field had been of a most exemplary nature.