THE COLOUR LINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18350, 14 September 1921, Page 6

THE COLOUR LINE

SPRINGBOKS’ MATCH WITH MAORIS. DR BUCK’S DEFENCE OF HIS RACE. “BAD TASTE AND GROSS IGNORANCE.” (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, September 13. A protest against the reported objection by members of the South African Rugby touring team to playing the Maoris at Napier has been forwarded by Te Rangihiroa (Dr H. P. Buck), who writes as follows: —“I read in your issue of September 13 that in addition to the Nelson grievance, the South Africans are indicating their.

opinions in no uncertain terms on having suffered the indignity of playing a match against the Maoris at Napier. The New Zealand Rugby Union’s mismanagement of the Nelson arrangements must excite the sympathy of the general public for the misused Springboks. When, however, they apply their antipathy of the negroid raecs in Smith Africa to the Maoris of this country, we stand appalled at the bad taste and gross ignorance displayed. Your report tries to excuse, them on -the grounds that their acquaintance with New Zealand has not been sufficiently long for them to understand the status of the Maoris in this country. If this is sufficient excuse then we can only conclude tha'; in developing brawn and muscle to' ensure success on the football field their powers of exercising their mental faculties outside of athletics have suffered deterioration. After playing their second match at New Plymouth against Taranaki, the Springboks were the honoured guests of the Maoris at a gathering of the Taranaki tribes held at Waitara. Among the hosts was the Hon. Dr Pomare, C.M.G., who translated the Maori speeches of welcome into English, and in return translated the Springboks’ efforts of appreciation into

Maori. Surely this early coming' into contact with a member of the Maori race holding a medical degree and occupying Cabinet rank in the Administration of the country should have stimulated thought and aroused observation. Everyone belonging to this country, and most educated people outside it, _ know that the Maoris are not of negroid extraction, but are ; of Caucasian descent. Their history and traditions are such that even South Africans, of whatever white mixture, might well be proud of them. Their conduct during the troublous times of conflict with the British was such as

earned them the admiration and respect of the white colonists. They were never conquered and .subjugated like menial races, but by treaty _ were admitted to full and equal citizenship with their white neighbours. Some of the most respected white families in this dominion have not deemed it unworthy to become united in happy alliances with members of the Maori. race. There are people in this country in the best social position who have Maori blood in their veins. They deem it no disgrace, but are proud that the history and the glorious record of the ancient Maori are their heritage. Why should the Maori race, with a proud record extending from olden

times right down to the great European war, have the colour line thrown at them in their own country by a team of uniformed footballers? To everyone with Maori blood in their veins, no matter how small, the so-called grievance of the Springboks against playing a Maori team, is an unmitigated insult. If the South Africans have any of the broad-mindedness of the great Louis Botha, or the Imperialistic General Smuts, they should correct. the report if it is wrong, or apologise if it is correct. If a team of reputed sports will not make honourable amends, and still persist in the curious attitude of drawing a colour line in sport in this country, then the New Zealand Union should, by not extending any future invitation to South Africa, protect its Maori supporters and their friends from further gratuitous insult.”

CENTRALISATION IN EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR Sm, —Contained in the news section of the Otago Daily Times on the 10th inst. are some references to, the suggested centralisation in tlie Lawrence District High School of the education of children from four small country schools. I write as one who, because of parental influence, was unwise enough to neglect a secondary and higher education. Representatives of these four country' schools met the representatives of the Education Board, the Lawrence District High School, and others. All the country representatives and the minority of the other representatives were against the proposed scheme. It was shown by those in favour of the' scheme that the children attending the Lawrence District High School would have a definite educational advantage. There would also be financial and other advantages. The expense of the proposed scheme «-woald be less than that of running the schools. Considerably more of the children would go on to the secondary education offered to them than is now possible. All know what advantage the man or woman of education has. Against the scheme, however, it was shown that there were no country farming advantages. Some representatives argued as though speedy motor cars go no faster than children do m walking to school. It was not seen that through the use of a car children would leave home and arrive at home aa punctually a« ever they did. The country representatives also argued that the scheme would in practice draw too many children away from their country pursuits to pursuits which they would follow in the cities. It is a case of preferring a copper penny to a gold! sovereign. If the children of farmers could no longer manage form implements and control animals as people did in the days before education, it does not sugfeat that they have lost the complete world, 'he sympathetic* city people endeavour to give the country people the advantages they enjoy in the cities. If the country people give their children all the educational advantages, those children in becoming teachers, doctors, t.nd lawyers would derive greater benefits than they could by being farmers and farm labourers. I hold that those who receive a good education are better off for it all. Of course, country people and farmers would have none sharing their disadvantages and drudgery. Even here, however, I may be mistaken, for teachers, lawyers, and doctors of form try extraction could give financial assistance to their relatives in the country Some parents, however, do not consider the welfare of their children. If a scheme was disadvantageous to them they would let their children have no advantage. Evidently such parents presume that what vm useless for them was useless for their children. They suppose that because they had no education their children should have no bettor education. . The authorities encourage children to receive the best education, and the closing of small schools to fill the large schools is one factor contributing to that end. On behalf of many expupils of the primary schools who would have taken advantage of secondary education if the opportunity had been offered, I favour the system of centralisation in Lawrence as now proposed.—l am, etc., Neglected Education.