THE SPRINGBOKS
SUGGESTED BOYCOTT HAWKE’S BAY MAORIS NOT IN FAVOUR By Telegraph—Press Association WAIROA, July 27 Maori footballers in this district do not intend to identify themselves with any action taken by the Arawa Maoris to boycott the South African footballers if one can judge by opinions expressed by Maori Rugby players here, who say that they are looking forward to the visit of the Springboks and would welcome the opportunity of meeting them. Three former Maori All Blacks, two of whom played against the Springboks when they were last in New Zealand, said it was a pity that the Arawa Maoris had suggested that any such action as boycotting should be taken. One Maori player who played in the much discussed 1921 match between the Springboks and the Maoris at Napier, said he thought the Arawa Maoris were making a mountain out of a molehill. He said that feeling in the game did run a bit high, but that was nothing. The trouble was all caused by one man, and he did not see why it should not be forgotten. “Those of us who have travelled know what the position is with regard to what they call the colour bar,” he said, “but we don’t worry about that. If the Springboks don’t like us and we have any differences, let us have it out on the football field. We can take all the Springboks like to give us and hand a little bit back, too. I don’t know why the Rotorua Maoris are complaining," he added. “They have not produced many good footballers.” The Game is the Thing Another Maori All Black said he was greatly disappointed at the action of the Arawas. He had hoped that if there was any feeling that it had been forgotten. He did not resent the fact that no Maoris had been included in the New Zealand team that toured South Africa in 1928. He had been to South Africa and, knowing the position there, thought it was a very wise move not to include Maoris in the team. “The visit of the South African team to New Zealand,” he said, “is a totally different thing. In New Zealand there is no distinction between Maori and Pakeha. We are on an entirely different footing to the natives of South Africa, and we have always been given the privileges of the Pakeha. I don’t think we should object to playing against the Springboks. I for one would not. The game is the thing; the ball we are playing with and not the men we are playing against.” Another prominent Maori, a former representative footballer, who was emergency for the 1921 game at Napier, said that if there was going to be any ill-feeling he thought the wisest course for the Rugby Union to take would be to instruct its selectors not to include Maoris in any of the teams to meet the Springboks.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 8
Word Count
489THE SPRINGBOKS Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 8
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