INCLUSION OF MAORIS IN ALL BLACKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5295, 7 January 1947, Page 6

INCLUSION OF MAORIS IN ALL BLACKS

1 Opinion Of New Zealander J Resident in Durban If New Zealand insisted in including Maoris in the All Black team to tour South Africa there would be no serious reaction in tbe latter country, is the cpinion of a former Marton resident, Mr. A. Gorrie, who has lived i'or the past ten years in Durban, where he is manager of a chain of j textile factories. The auestion, he said, was of paramount importance. to the sporting world of South Africa, and there had been a great deal of newspaper correspondence on the subject. ■One newspaper had interviewed all the members of the last Springbok team to tour New Zealand, and found almost equally divided opinion. Many considered the inclusion of Maori would not matter on the playing field, but a problem would be presented at sc-cial functions. Mr. Gorrie referred to South Africa's colour problem, which he said would be more readily understood when it was realised that in South Africa there were only two million whites to eight million natives. Mr. Gorrie also referred to South Africa's Indian troubles, resulting from her refusal to sell land to Indians, except in specified areas. Indians indentured may years ago to work sugar plantations had multiplied. Many had become wealthy and

owned businesses. Now they attempted to buy property often belonging to or occupied by Europeans, this not being in line with South Africa's colour policy. The South African Government had introduced a pegging Act, which specified the areas in which Indians could purchase land. The Indians had started a passive resistanee movement. Many had squatted in a European park at Durban and when arrested refused to pay a fine and went to jails. More took their places, until about 700 Indians were in Durban's jails. The Indian Government . stepped in and as a result trade be- , tween the Indians and South Africa was at a standstill.