“NO COLOUR BAR”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20003, 31 July 1939, Page 12

“NO COLOUR BAR”

N.Z. LEAGUE TEAM MR, CULLEN’S OPINION (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. A statement to the effect that i; there were not so much colour-bar in Rugby there would be more Maons included in -the All Blacks, was- made by Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P., at the official opening of the new Ran-giahua Native School on Saturday. The remark was made by Mr. Cullen during the course of a reference to the farewell which was given to he -members of the Ne-w Zealand league team -in Parliament Buildings ,-a-slt week before -their departure for England. There were, 'he said, six young Maori boys in 'that tea-m, magnificent specimens of -the race. They were going forth, to do 'battle -on the football field at Home and whild there he felt sure they would uphold the highest .'traditions of the race. While in England; they would be ambassadors of this country, and he appealed to the children of Rangiahua to endeavour to grow up strong and healthy like these young men. “There is no colour bar there,” he added, referring -to the League team, "and if there we-re not so -much colour bar in Rugby we would have more Maoris wearing the silver fern than in the past.” Mr. Cullen added' that lie had seen young Maoris 1 playing in the Wairoa Rugby representative team, and young Europeans too, who were well worth a game in- -the Hawke’s- Bay team.