Maoris Not To Play Australians

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1949, Page 6

Maoris Not To Play Australians

WELLINGTON, Tue., (P.A.).— The view that a New Zealand Maori team should be given a match against the Australian touring team this season, was expressed in a letter received at yesterday’s meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union from the East Coast Union, which also requested that a fixture between East Coast-Poverty Bay and the British touring team next year be allocated to Ruatoria. The chairman (Mr A. St. C. Belcher) expressed the opinion that the union was giving the Maori players plenty of games. He was sure that if the Maori team had. not gone to Australia the union would have provided it with a game against the visitors. The East Coast Union is to be informed that in view of the shortness of the tour and the number of unions requesting games, it was regretted that no special provision could be made for a special match with a Maori team. AUSTRALIA-N.Z. CONFERENCE

July 28 and 29 ai'e the dates to be suggested for a conference between representatives of the New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions, to be held in Sydney. Mr Belcher and Mr F. E. Sutherland (Auckland), who are members of the council, are to represent New Zealand at the conference.On the recommendation of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association, Mr G. E. Bradley was appointed as referees’ representative on the union’s appointment board. Whangarei Hotels . . .

Guests staying at Whangarei hotels today include: _ i, SETTLERS.—Messrs J. Caten, S. J. Burns, H. Adams. J. E. Hall (Auckland), A. Leslie (Wellington). COMMERCIAL.—Messrs G. Shepherd, G. Healy, A. Dell, J. Reading, G. Harris, G. Martin (Auckland), R. H. Booth tWellington). E. Budden (Te Awamutu.