"IDLE TALK"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 23

"IDLE TALK"

MAORIS & SPRINGBOKS SOUTH AFRICAN VIEW 1 Advices from South Africa indicate that the arrangements at that end for the tour of New Zealand were not affected in any way by the question raised in New Zealand as to the position of the Maoris in regard to the tour. Leading South African Rugby Board authorities, interviewed in Cape Town, said that there was much idle talk about Maoris playing . in. ; New Zealand teams, or for New Zealand, or as a team against the Springboks in. the forthcoming tour. The; .question of Maoris and New Zealand Rugby was as old as the hills and was no more regarded by the board today as a problem than it was in 1921. "The South African Rugby team was going to New Zealand next year as the guests of the' New Zealand Rugby Union, and it had never been suggested for a moment that there was any reason whatsoever >why the invitation" should not be'fulfilled, nor had conditions of any kind been imposed. Anything which might have appeared in Press cables had not made the slightest difference to the arrangements of the South African Rugby Board. It was evident that, the old and purely domestic New Zealand question as to Maoris playing in New Zealand teams or for New Zealand had been raised in New Zealand itself, but there had been no official echo of it in South Africa, nor was there any reason for this.

It is well known among Rugby players that the Maoris were dissatisfied with their representation in the recent All Black team which toured England, when only one Maori was picked for the New Zealand side. It is certain that the New Zealand Union picked what they thought to be their best players, but the Maoris were not satisfied with their choice "(states a Cape Town message). The Springbok visit to New Zealand would give the Maoris an opportunity of ' voicing;" this domestic grievance, ■and that is an additional reason why the South African Rugby Board is merely proceeding in accordance with the programme for next year's tour, quite apart from the salient fact that .no communication has been received on the subject. One of the South African selectors, Mr. Barlow, sent a private telegram to a fellow-selector expressing the hope that the Springboks would play against any New Zealand team chosen, a sentiment which most likely represents the feeling of .the board.

RANFURLY SHIELD In the six Ranfurly Shield games played this season at Dunedin prior to today's match with Wellington, Otago have scored 113 points and have had 16 scored against them. Otago have had their line crossed oh only three occasions, Southland, Manawatu, and Auckland each scoring one try. In all, Otago have scored 15 tries. The results of the games are:—v. Southland, won, 16-3; v. Auckland, won, 14-5; v. Manawatu, won, 11-5; v. South Canterbury, won, 26-3; v. Canterbury, won, 16-0; v. North Auckland, won, 30-0.

B. J. McCarthy, of the Wellington branch of the Bank of New Zealand, whose transfer to Sydney has been announced, is a son of B. McCarthy, the well-known Hawera trotting man who was, after leaving St. Patrick's College, one -of the, finest all-rounders on the West Coast. B.J. the younger has played tennis for Victoria College for some time, and toured Australia with the New Zealand Universities side last year. Experience in Sydney should develop his tennis considerably.

Gate receipts at last Saturday's Rugby Test in Dunedin amounted to about £2300. The total for the two Tests would be over £SOOO.