Kowtowing to Ignorant Bigotry

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1949, Page 3

Kowtowing to Ignorant Bigotry

AUCKLAND, Feb. 6. "The. sending of a representative New Zealand Rugby teain to South Africa that did not include Maoris, would be kowtowing to the ignorant bigotry of South Africans," said Sir Peter Buck in an address to the Auckland Savage Club on Saturday night. He urged the need for the abandonmeni of racial antagonism in New Zealand. "Oue thing I don't like and that is the .idea that 110 -Maoris should go- as members o^ the Rugby team to represent New Zealand in South Africa," he added. "Ev'en in the United States where there used to be a colour prejudice, on account jf . the Negro slaves. racial antagonism is dying out. There is a feeling against it today.'' Sir Peter pointed out that in eontrast to -South Africa rs attitude, Yale Jniversity had appoinved a full-bloodea Negro to captain its football team for 1949 and Harvard'3~team also included Negroes. "When Lafayette University was told to eliminate its Negro halfback before an invitation match, the University refused to travel," he eaid. In the First World War the Maoris who volunteered for actlve service did not want mollycoddiing. Their chiefs and elders told them to be true to their blood. When in Egypt the general impression was that they were to be pushed into garrison duty. "But this kindness isn't wanted, " Sir Peter said. '"'It does more damage than good." The Maoris in the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force had' approached their cotnmanding officer, General Sir' Alexander Godley, and asked for permission to go on: active ser.vice as part of the New Zealand force. "In the Second World War I understand the Maoris refused to act as pioneers," Sir Peter said when paying tribute to the record of the Maori Battalion. The blood of Maoris, along' with pakehas, had been slied on many fields on Gallipoli, in France, Belgium and' more recently in North Africa and Italy. ' ' I hope that future generations of New Zealanders will be proud of the tradition handed down to them," Sir Peter said. "New Zealand ranks high. Maoris and pakeha, we are the same although the colour of the skin may be a little different." Speaking of his own parentage (his father was Irish and his mother a Maori), Sir Peter claimed that *a person of mixed blood had a great advantage.