MAORI FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 7

MAORI FOOTBALL

Rugby Union Wants Value For Money Spent OFFICIALS TO CONFER A report on the cost of Maori footbull last year gave rise to keen discussion when it was tabled at the meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Council in Wellington yesterday. The council appointed a committee to meet the Maori Advisory Board to discuss Maori football generally, ami the question of representation of the council on rite board. Tbe cost of Maori football during the year was given in the report as £1442 1/8, of the Maori All Blacks’ tour ot Fiji as £877/16/4, and of the South Island Maori trial match in Oamaru on July 9 as £207/3/11. The gale for the Oamaru match was £45. Mr. A. M. Ongley, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that though it was not a question of expenditure only, some adequate return must be assured. The union aimed 'to encourage Maori trips and combat Rugby League. But the Maori players, having obtained a good advertisement from Ihe trips, went over to the other code. There were many other ways in which the union could expend £l4OO. lhe Maori footballer was now able to lake his place in provincial sides and there was no more reason to have Maori .All Blacks than to have Scottish or Irish. Fijian Tour.

The chairman, Mr. S. S. Dwtu, said that as a result of the Fijian tour Rugby had been definitely established there, and an opportunity given the Fijian to carry on. Mr. G. A. Maddison (Hawke’s Bay) said that the trouble with the Maoris was lack of administrative ability. Maori football should be encouraged within reason. The council should have a representative on tbe Maori Advisory Board and should call for a report. It would be a mistake to cut out Maori football altogether, said Mr. Dean. The Prince of Wales Cup matches were beneficial, but trial matches were no good at all. Tbe position of Maori football was difficult and the union had been playing with it for a long time. He suggested that the board should in future consist of a certain number of the Native race together with members of the council. At present they did not know when or where the board met.

Mr. Maddison moved that a committee comprising Messrs. Dean, Preudeville, A. A. Adams, A. St. Clair Belcher (Waikato) and himself should meet the Maori Advisory Board and discuss (a) Maori football generally, (b) Maori football in the coming season, (c) representation of the council on the board. Mr. Kitto said that representatives of the unions should also be present, because in many eases members of the Maori board were working contrary to the interests of the union in their districts. Also, the council should have some recommendation to make to the meeting. Mr. Maddison’s motion was carried, the conference to report to lhe meeting of the council on May 2.