FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 August 1936, Page 8

FOOTBALL

THE COLOUR BAR. SUPPORT FOs ARAWAS. BLENHEIM, Friday. Support for the Arawa Springbok memorial was given by a meeting of Marlborough Maori,', football enthiisiasts at Wairau Pa, when the question w,as discussed at length. The meeting was of the opinion that a grave misunderstanding was created through the non-inclusion of Maori players in the New Zealand team which toured South Africa in 1928, although two years before the Maori All Blacks toured Great Britain, Franco and Canada. The statement of the South African Rugby Union president that the Springboks were willing to meet the Maoiis 1 was appreciated, but the question arose whether it applied to tours of South Africa by All Blacks including Maoris. The meeting considered the colour bar question should be settled once and for all by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Maori Advisory Board. The meeting was presided over by Mr J. McDonald, a member of the Maori Advisory Board and a representative of the Maoris on the Marlborough Rugby Union, The Maoris of Waikawa and Picton unanimously decided not to pMy against the Springboks or entertain them until the whole matter has been satisfactorily settled. —(P.A.)