AIL WHITE TEAM FOR SOUTH AFRICA DECIDED ON BY N.Z.R.U.

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 3

AIL WHITE TEAM FOR SOUTH AFRICA DECIDED ON BY N.Z.R.U.

MAORI ELDERS SUPPORT DECISION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The New Zealand Rugby Union today reaffirmed its decision to send a wholly European team to South Africa next year. An announcement to this effect was made at to-day’s meeting of the council by the chairman, Mr A. St. C. Belcher, in the following statement: “After a conference-with the members of the Maori Advisory Board, when that board reaffirmed its decision made prior to the visit of the All Blacks to South Africa in 1928, that the New Zealand Rugby Union be recommended not to members of the Maori race in the team to be selected for the tour, this decision being unanimously approved by the elders of the Maori people at that time, the council adheres to its resolution of August 5, 1948, that it regrets that the players selected to tour South Africa in 1949 cannot be other than wholly European.” Mr Belcher also reported that the following resolution had been passed unanimously by the Maori Advisory Board at a meeting yesterday: “We, the members of the Maori Advisory Board, reaffirm the resolution and policy of the non-inclusion of members of the Maori race in the New Zealand All Black team, which is to tour South Africa in 1949.”

A copy of the resolution handed to Mr Belcher was signed J?y Mr W. T. Parata, as chairman of” the meeting and Mr K. Tahiwi as honorary secretary of the board.