MAORIS AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

Chronicle (Levin), 3 September 1946, Page 3

MAORIS AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

-*• . -Press Association

By •Telegravh—

VvDLLLN'UTON, Sept. 2. Keferring to the questioii of the inelusiou of Maoris in the All Blacks for the projected tour of »South Afriea, wliicli wa s raisod in an ' aftcr-dinner speech by.Mr. J. Prendeville at New Dlyinouth, Mr. B. 8. Dean, the chairinan of the New Zealand Kugby Football Union, at a management commit-, tee meeting today sa'id the Kugby Uouncil at ita lust meeting eonsidered tho inclusion of Maori players in the team viditiug youth Afriea, and the couneil membcrs, possesSing lirst-haud knowledge of the problems of the sister Douiinion and reaiising the invidious and difficult position in which the Aiaon players seiected might be plaeed, dc eided that the position should be diplomatieally cxplored before an\ atatement was made or a conelusion reaclied. The same eonsideratious were given prior to the 1928 tour when after eousultations with the Maori loaders it was deemed best in the interi csts of the Maoris themselves . that I Maori players be not eonsidered. j The eouneil intends to -investigate I the position in the knowledge of the ( ditfkulties pertaining to native races | in Afriea. 11' it is possible to inelude 1 any Maoris without causiug einbarrassI menl to themselves and with an assur- | nncc that they will be .aeceptable as j New Zealanders from the Domiriion's friends in youth Afriea all will bc well. | The major eonsiderutiou is to sec that if the Maoris go they receive the same eourtesies, hospitality and other privi- ; Jeges expeeted to be given u New Zeai land Kugby team. ! Mr. Dean said that he had been ad- : viseti by the Maori people that" as the ; native proldem was d nntional question ' to thu youth Afrieun Government the | Maoris did not wish to embarrass them.