RUGBY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10450, 3 December 1927, Page 3

RUGBY.

WARATAH'S LIST OF FIXTURES

GAMES TO BE PLAYED

The Now South AVdes Rugby •team’s list of fixtures is as.follows:— 3rd December.—v. Cardiff, at Cardiff. Btli Dee.— v. Pontypool. at Pontypoof. 10th Deo.— v Lancashire and Chis sliire, at Rirkorihoad. ■ 17t!i Deco —v. Scotland) at Miirrnrfiold.

MAORiS AND ALL BLACKS.

OMISSION' OF NATIVE FLAYERS. A correspondent of the’ Auckland “Sun” unburdens his mind very'.seh--sihiy in the following letter..to tire northern .journal: ‘-.Mr. S. S. Dean’s explanation of the exclusion of Maoris li'oni the 15)28 All Black team is net convincing. Xf, as he acknowledges, the South African Union made no stipulation, expressed or implied, that Maoris should not he included,’ why did the New Zealand Union take upon its shoulders "Ire responsibility’, for reaching a decision., so drastic?-- The chairman's confession throws'an-alto-gether new light cn the. subject.. It was not a case of meeting the. , expressed wishes of the host—one of-the reasons suggested by protagonists, of the New Zealand Rugby lUnicn—but an instance in which the guests made an exclusive arrangement, regardless of the feelings of a large body of its own players, or of the wishes, .of .South Africa. For all we know: now. South Africa may he keenly disappointed jit the non-inclusion-'’ cf -Maori players. ‘‘As to the contumely to ■ which .Maoris would ho subjected in the Union : the type of native who :is .shouldered off the pavements in -South African towns, excluded from the: hotels, and horded into .special enclosures at sports grounds, is. not. the - Maori;:s type. Rather, he is a semi-nude and none too clean speimen of a black race never renowned for its -culture. He cannot be compared with... the Maori. There is no reason.why South Africa should lie allowed to persist in its impression that tin? .Maoris fall into the same classification as the African blacks. f ; ■ 'T believe that a leaven of Maori players in the next All Black. team would add to the popularity of tlfe side, as well as to strength, on the - field. Further, j suggest that the attitude of the Maori Advisory Board is just what might have been-expect-ed from men of its stamp. Self-effac-ing and courteous, they risked -no step that might have embarrassed the Tsew Zealand Union. . But that /docs .not relieve the New Zealand Union 'front the charge that it lias perpetrated a Judas-like trick towards , its .-■Maori friends.” . •//. ,