FOOTBALL PROPAGANDA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11195, 28 April 1922, Page 6

FOOTBALL PROPAGANDA

CIRCULATION AMONGST MAORIS. i \ RUGBY-AND LEAGUE CODES. Reference was made by the president of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (Mr J. McLeod), in the course of his remarks on the annual report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting of the union yesterday, to an attempt which, he said, was being made to influence Maori Rugby players to play under the other code. JUBt what steps should he taken to meet the position, he said, he could not exactly say, but he thought such men as Mr Parata, Dr Pomare, and others who were associated with the amateur game, might bring the Maoris to a realisation as to what they were being led into. The subject was somewhat difficult to speak upon without saying too much, but they should realise that the Maoris were rather liable to he influenced by such propaganda, and that unless something was done they might easily be won over to the other game, to the detriment of Rugby. He thought that if an appeal were made to the Maori players it would go home, and the position would thus be well met. The natives should be made to thoroughly understand what was happening. An attempt was being made to win the Maori over to the Northern Union game. That was the last thing thev wanted to see happen. Many of the best players in the country were Maoris, and" generally they made better amateurs than other players. It would be a sad thing indeed if a large section of three players were won over, not understanding whither they were being led. The union must take cognisance of the position, and do all it could to prevent developments. The report of the general business transacted will he found on our sports pages-