MAORIS AND SPRINGBOKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 10

MAORIS AND SPRINGBOKS

NORTH AUCKLAND POSITION RELIANCE ON NATIVE PLAYERS [from oub own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Saturday Tlio serious position which would arise if all Maori players were withdrawn from the North Auckland Rugby football team to meet the Springboks at Whangarei next year was considered at a meeting of the North Auckland Maori Advisory Board held in Whangarei yesterday. The attitude which the Maori tribes north of Auckland should adopt in regard to the visit of the Springboks was also discussed. A resolution was carried authorising Messrs. Tau Henare, M.P., and L. W. Parore to confer with elders of, other tribes at Huatoria, where the King's Cup match will be played on Saturday. The president of the North Auckland Rugby Union, Mr. L. J. Brake, stated that it would be impossible to select a representative team without including the Maori players, and consequently, if the Springboks were disinclined to meet a team containing Maori players, or the Maoris abstained, it would not be possible to field a team to play the visitors.

Mr. L. \V. Parore, secretary of the North Auckland Maori Advisory Board, said the board appreciated the remarks of Mr. Brake. The number of Maoui players who were given representative honours proved that the North Auckland Ilugby Union was doing everything possible to foster tho game among the Maori people. • The meeting placed on record its appreciation of the helpfulness of Mr. Brake and Mr. F. L. Morgan, secretary of tho North Auckland Union.