SPRINGBOKS AND MAORIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 18

SPRINGBOKS AND MAORIS

DRIFT TO LEAGUE CODE

TREATMENT OF NA1WES BY THE NEW ZEALAND UNION i

VIEWS OF MR. J. W. STEAD

Writing in the Southland Times Mr. J. W. Stead, five-eighth in the famous 1905-06 All Blaclc team, has some definite criticism to make regarding the attitude of the ' New Zealand Rugby Union towards Maori football. He says that the state of Maori Rugby under the patronage of the Union is precarious. There is a danger of a drift to League. Mr. Stead's article in the Southland Times reads as follows: — "A quarter of a century ago Mr. W. T. Parata conceived the idea of Maori teams undertaking extended tours. fle was convinced that he had much natural talent for Rugby to choose from, but before he could approach the New Zealand Union for its approval he ,'iad much spade work to accomplish. Tribal jeaiousies were rarr.pant and such is the psychology of tlic Maori that it takes a Maori to know a Maori and who would be better for the job than Mr. Parata? "Successful in his preliminary work, Mr. Parata secured approval from headquarters for a tour of Australia in 1910, which he financed himself. Since then the Australians, having seen the style of open play favoured by the Maoris have extended through the years a warm welcome. New South Wales at that period was having a lean time ,trying to keep the code alive against the strong League opposition, so that in 1913 another Maori tour was successfully accomplished and the New Zealand Rugby Union definitely gave the Maoris official recognition by allowing them to appoint an Advisory Board of seven, with the right of one seat on the management committee. "I am a member of that board, but I have not been able to afford to pay my own expenses to the North Island to attend meetings since about 1923, but at the meetings before then I obtained inside knowledge of the amount of tact and organisation required to satisfy the Maori and retain his status with the New Zealahd Rugby Union. "Since 1925 if has been apparent to me that there is a spirit of antagonism to anything Mr. Parata and the board might suggest and being without money, we have had to do what we have been told. That year had been tacitly recognised as the occasion for a Maori tour of Britain instead of which Porter's team was sent with a consoling report to the board that a Maori team would be sent in 1928. Powers of Board. "In various ways the union infringed on our already limited powers and when approaehed about the promised tour made all sorts of excuses. Mr. Parata set to work to organise a tour himself and then heard from the New Zealand Union that England would not give us an international status. France wanted us, but the New Zealand Union — still not desiring financial responsibility — said we were doomed to failure. In spite of all difficulties Mr. Parata got two Maoris to Guarantee the money and we had just decided to advise the New Zealand Union, then also in session, that we were -going on with the tour when Fiance cabled stating that the French Federation would undertake the whole responsibility. "There is no need to emphasise that as players in touring teams Maoris have been very successful, that many fine players also figured in New Zealand teams and that they have been above reproach socially so that they might be an hoiunjr to their race and

their Dominion. Yet these players who have basked in the limelight kno'w nothing of the tension at headquarters, of how the man who was responsible for congenial conditions for their game has been gradually pushed aside, nor how the New Zealand Rugby Union has gradually usurped the powers and privileges which should have been delegated to the advisory board. "A pakeha member of the New Zealand Rugby Union was appointed manager and coach of fhe Maori team to piay Britain in 1930. "The state of Maori Rugby under the patronage of the New Zealand Rugby Union can be seen to be precarious and once again Mr. Parata., is invited to express his opinion on how to prevent this drift to League. This is what he and the few conveniently' situated members of the board have done, and those who have read their reports will understand the question at the beginning of this article. Match at Rotorua. "A member of ?he executive was appointed to get in touch with I the Maori Board about the drift to League and a definite reply was made that the Springboks should play the Maoris at Rotorua. Previously a cabJe had been sent to the South Afriean Rugby Board for permission to play this game. The Maoris' arrangements were soon completed with that wonderful unanimity so often seen in the North Island when honoured guests are to be entertained. "All was well at Rotorua, but the manager of the Springboks upset the arrangements when he considered it inexpedient to play on the Tuesday before tl^e final Test. By now we have lost all patience at the manner in which we are uontinually being sidestepped. Can the Maoris be blamed if, after their great win against the Australian League team, they go over en masse to a code which eminently suits their natural bent? In the south it is diflicult to understand what that secession will mean to the existence of the isolated football districts of the north. From Otaki through Hawke's Bay, East Coast, North Auckland, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawa tu Maori players predominate. "Tribal instincts are still strong and if it is decreed that Rugby is to be forsaken it matters not to the Maoris whether they turn to League, soccer or hockey. It will be a complete change-over. Te Aute College, that great nursery for Rugby union among the Maoris, will concentrate its activities on whatever game the race decides, which most likely will be League. I "The Maori Board will meet at | Christchurch during the week of the second Test to decide the fate of Rugby among the Maoris. Probably I shall not be there, but I shal be advised of its conclusions. As I have • mentioned, the board has made it easy for the New Zealand Rugby Union. The union has asked for help and the board says that it will do. its best, but there must be a match at Rotorua between the Springboks and the Maoris. "If the visitors understand the seriQusness of the position -they should drop some other less important game, especially when it will help to consolidate Rugby among a race which at present is puzzled and mystified by the apparent inactivity of the Maori Board." — ^ 1 ."* . + r'T y»