SPRINGBOKS AND MAORIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19122, 17 September 1936, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS AND MAORIS

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir, —As one who attended the gathering at a complimentary dinner given last Saturday evening in honour of the visiting Tai-Tokerau team, I can vouch for the correctness of the condensed report which appeared in your Monday issue. The verdict to play the 'Springboks had been unanimous and to attach another meaning would be unwarranted. .The proposal was accepted without dissent, the movers being the chairman oi the East Coast Rugby Union and Mr. 11. Leaf, of the Ngapuhi people. Mr. Kohere’s doctrine of isolation and aloofness had been well known and like that doctrine lie evidently had been out ol touch with the trend of Maori public opinion on the Coast regarding the matter. Naturally the verdict was obnoxious to him and hence his contradiction. Sports should be the means of creating comradeship, appeasement and mutual admiration and certainly not to foment hatred and war. I am hoping that the match with the Springboks, if it could be arranged at all would be the means of creating a clearer and better atmosphere. Hospitality had been one of the strong characteristics of a Maori, and the doctrine of aloofness as supported by Mr. Kohere is foreign to him. Let the Springboks make the 'first move in the matter and if they decline to have a match with us then our conscience would be clear. Mr. Kohere concluded by saying that he had no objection to a match being played provided there had been some understanding. What understanding does Mr. Kohere want? Does his doctrine of aloofness contribute to the required understanding? Indeed Mr. Kohere is difficult to understand. — Yours, etc. NATI.

M. G. Louis,son’s b. f. Pay Up, by Iloylake—Bourse; F. Williamson’s gr. e. Screamer, by Hoylake—Toti dal Monte; A. P. Greenfield’s eh. g. Heidelberg, by Lord Warden—Poetess; W. D. McLeod’s eh. c. Trifle Cone, by Rosenor—Silver Peak; Sir Charles Clifford’s b. f. Mob Rule, by Winning Hit—Babel; Sir Charles Clifford’s br. f. Card Player, by Paper Money— Shuffle; P. T. Hogan’s b.f. Bellrive, by Philamor—Belcaire; Mrs. .1. M. ii. Tripp’sb. f. Fairlight, by Lord Warden • —Cupid’s Bow.