RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1926, Page 3

RUGBY.

MAORI TOURING TEAM. WELSH UNION’S DISCRIMINATION PROTEST FROM POVERTY BAY. (BY TELrGUAPH PRRSS ASSOCIATION . ) GISBORNE, May 24. Last week a cable message appeared in the Press to the effect that the Welsh Rugby Union had decided mot to officially recognise the Maori football team, and had declined to arrange an international match and ivould accept no responsibility for club games. This message '.caused much resentment in Poverty Bay, where numerous Rugby players are Maoris, and the matter came" before the Poverty Bay Rugby Union last evening. The subject was introduced by the chairman (Mr A. S. Parker), who, referring to the cable, said he thought the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, as one of the foremost bodies controlling Maori Rugby, should ' enter .a strong protest. “I think it is an insult to the Maoris in every possible way,” lie said, “particularly in view of the way in which such a fuss was made of the Pioneer and other Maori teams visiting Wales. They then received thorn with open arms * and urged some of the prominent Maori players to return Home to play. There has been a good deal of correspondence between the Home clubs and well-known Maori players in the 1924-25 All Bla'cks, endeavouring to persuade them to return to play for Rugby and League teams at Home, yet when a. New Zealand Maori team is about to set out the Welsh Union refuses to recognise them as a Now Zealand team.” The speaker said he had drafted out the following resolution, which he thought the union should pass and thus give a lead! to other unions: “That the Poverty Bav Rugby Union resents the action'of the Welsh Rugby Union in deciding not to officially recogise the Mahri team, to decline to. arrange an international match, and in accepting no responsibility for club games; the Poverty Bay Union considers such an attitude as a insult to the Maoris, and also to the Dominion, for it either draws the colour line or attributes, to the Maoris unsportsmanlike qualities. The Poverty Bay Union considers such a decision, by what was looked upon as a sporting nation, beneath contempt, and trusts that the New Zealaud Rugby Union as the controlling body of Maori and pakeha fotoball in New Zealand, will not allow to pass unnoticed such an unwarranted slur upon the Maori footballers, a number of whom, went to England with the All Black team. Further, that until such time as some explanation is l made, the Poverty Bav Union pledges itself to play against no British team in which there is a Welsh Player; also, that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the New Zealand Rugbv Union, and to other Rugby Unions, in"which there are Maori players, with a view to taking united action on similar lines.” 1 ... Mr. Brosnahan: I don’t tlnnk you can make the protest strong enough. The chairman: It’s an insult to the Maori people, who are among Lie strongest supporters of the game in the Dominion, and particularly in this district. , . n Mr Jen lie: The Pioneer team played two games in; Wales and chewed them up both times, heating' Llanelly by ■>() points to nil. Mr Brosnahan: That is probably the n\‘ison why the Welsh Union is taking ;:p this attitude. . After further discussion on similar lines the resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

THIS W EE'K’S FIXTURES. The onlv senior Rugby match played in Taranaki next Saturday will Ire the trial o-ame. North v. South, at Sl l at—ford. Tor which Mr Eggleton has been appointed referee. South. Taranaki fixtures in the lower grades, will be:— JUNIORS. Eltham-Opunake Division. Kaponga, v. .Bit-ham, at Eltham (Air F. Atkins), 2.45. Okaiawa. v. Opunake, at Okniawa (Mr J. Kilty). 2.45. Waimate a, live. Southern Division.

Haw-era v. Patea, .at Pate a (Air Syine), at 2.45. ' Athletic v. AVaverley, at Hawera (Air L. ciapiiam), at 2.45. Alton a- bye. FOURTH GRADE.

AY a i mate v. Okaiawa, at Normanhy (Air E. Hurley). 1.15. Hawera 0 v. High School B, at Hawera! (Air A. H. Guy). Hawera. v. Kaponga, at Hawera- (Mr R. Jones). 1.15. Eiltham v. Pa tea, at Elthum (Air Bicheno), 1.15. High School A a bye.

MID-WEEIv RUGBY. REFEREES FOR TO-MORROW. Appointments of referees for tomorrow’s games are as follows: — Citv v. Tolcaora, at Hawera, Mr A. H. Guy. Whareroa v. Fraser Road, at Whareroa, Mr E # Hurley. Normanby v. Ohangai, at Normanby, Mr P. Mullins. TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW. City team to play Tokaora at show grounds.—Hall, Lay, Goodwin, Morris, Hammond, Sutton, Craighead, Foster, I-leyes, Hart, Cannon, Seagcr, Bryant, Macbeth, Ritter, and Gould. Tokaora.-—Mundy, Carter, Wells, Griffen, Taylor, Lavery, Woods, Symonds, Kimberley, Connery, Wren (2), Frcyue, Tomlinson, Marriner, and Williamson. Normanby team to play Ohangai at Normanby at 2.30 p.m. will be selected from: C. Ponga, Poss, Hooper, Walker, Paul, Bentley, Rowe, Duggan, Hawke, : J. Linn, E. Linn, Heke, Aka, B. Hughes, P. oiler, Hudi, Treniain, McEwan, Nuku.