THE NAPIER MATCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 8

THE NAPIER MATCH

STATEMENT BY MR PARATA By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, July 27 It was a hard, clean game, said Mr W. T. Parata, a member of the Maori Rugby Advisory Board, when recalling the match between the Maoris and Springboks at Napier in 1921. No man is better qualified to speak on the happenings in that match or Maori Rugby generally, than Mr Parata, who was one of the selectors of the Maori team on that occasion. Mr Parata commented on the statements made by Te Ari Pitima, asserting that Pitima was not in any way connected officially with Maori football in the South Island or anywhere else. “I strongly resent the remarks he has made concerning the Arawa people,” said Mr Parata. “He refers to local Maoris not being permitted to play golf at Rotorua, which is incorrect, because there are several local Maoris members of the Rotorua Club.” Mr Parata characterised as most unfair the statement made by Pitima that the Rotorua Maoris had been commercialised. “They have always been willing to put themselves out to help the Government in the entertainment of distinguished visitors,” said Mr Parata, “and their hospitality has always been available often at considerable expense to themselves as well as at great personal sacrifice and inconvenience.”

Speaking of Rugby, Mr Parata declared that the Maoris throughout New Zealand were dissatisfied with the present conditions. There were matters requiring very urgent attention. Speaking of the much discussed Maori match, he said it was no more than a hard clean game, and the demonstration after the match was not against the Springboks, but, unfortunately against the referee, who was a sick man and should not have controlled the game. As to the social side, the Africans were entertained at Napier by Mrs Perry, a leading member of the Maori race, also by Mr Adam Pohio, at Petane, while one of the Springboks wrote in the public press contradicting the rumours of racial feeling, stating that their reception by the Taranaki Maoris was one of the best experiences of the tour.