“UNWARRANTED SLUR”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 7

“UNWARRANTED SLUR”

WELSH RUGBY UNION’S DECISION POVERTY BAY UNION INDIGNANT “INSULT TO MAORI RACE” Per Press Association. GISBORNE, May 24. Last week a cable message appeared in the Press to the effect that the Welsh Rugby Union nacl decided not to recognise officially the Maor* team, and declined to arrange an nucii.anional match, and would accept no responsibility lor club games. This message lias caused much resentment in Poverty Bay, where many Rugby players are Maoris, and the matter came before the Poverty Bay Rugby Union last evening. The chairman, Mr A. S. Parker, said he thought the union should enter a strong protest. “I think it is a damned insult to the Maoris in every possible way,” he 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 re-

ceived them 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 clues ami wellknown Maori players iu the 1924-25 All Blacks, endeavouring to persuade them to return to play tor 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 New Zealand team.” Mr Parker moved the following resolution : “That the Poverty Bay Rugby Union resents tho action of the Welsh Rugby Union in deciding not to recognise officially the Maori team, to decline to arrange an international match, and in accepting no responsibility for club games. This union considers such an attitude is an insult to the Maoris, and also to the Dominion, for it either draws the colour line or attributes to the Maoris unsportsmanlike qualities.

This union considers such a decision by what was looked upon as a sporting nation beneath contempt, and trusts that the New Zealand Rugby Union, as the controlling body of Maori and pakeha football in New Zealand, will not allow to pass unnoticed such an unwarranted slur upon Maori footballers, a number of whom went to England.with tho All Black team. Further, that until- Such time as some explanation is made, the Poverty Bay Union pledges itself to piny against no British team in which there is a Welsh player. Also, that a copy of this resolution he forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union and to tho other Rugby unions in which there are Maori players, with a view to taking united action on similar lines.” Mr Brosnnhan: I don’t think you can make the protest strong enough. The chairman: It’s an insult to the Maori people, who are among the strongest supporters of the game in the Dominion, particularly in this district. Mr Jeune: The Pioneer team played two games in Wales, and “chewed them up” both times, beating Llanelly by 50 points to nil. Mr Brosnalmn: Probably the reason why the Welsh Union is taking up this attitude. After further discussion on similar lines the resolution was carried unanimously.