Maori Visit To Australia?

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1947, Page 2

Maori Visit To Australia?

WELLINGTON, Mon. (Sp.)—“lt is too early to discuss the proposal made by Mr Towers,” said Mr S. S. Dean, Wellington, the chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, last night. He was commenting on a suggestion made by the former Australian international player, C. H. Towers, that the Maoris should be invited to take part in a triangular tournament. •‘lt is still not certain that a French team will visit New Zealand, and we are committed in the coming season with the Maoris to the tour of Fiji, which was abandoned this year, because of transport difllcultes. ‘T have no doubt that Mr Towers' proposal would be of assistance to Australia if it could be put into effect. FRENCH TOUR ••I remember that Australian Rugby benefited from the international tour- j nament held there in 1910, when Aus- , tralian, New Zealand, Maori and Cali- j fornian teams competed." I In spite of a recent visit on the | matter to Paris by the New Zealand union’s delegates, Messrs F. E. Sutherland, of Auckland, and G. A. Maddison, of Hawke's Bay. a decision on the French tour next year had not yet been made, Mr Dean said. If the team did come, it was likely to tour New Zealand before Australia. Fiji was expecting the Maori team to tour the islands next season , and it was understood between New Zealand and Fiji that if for any reason a Maori team was unable to go, a Fijian team might be brought to New Zealand.