THE COLOUR LINE.

Shannon News, 16 September 1921, Page 4

THE COLOUR LINE.

AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT,

The telegram sent by the Arawa Maoris to the Springboks protesting against an alleged attempt to draw the colour line, has caused quite a stir in Rugby circles. At first sight it seemed as it' the Maoris were pressing their grievance without much shadows of right. " It now appears, however, that their indignation was caused by the following statement published in the Napier Telegraph after the recent match against the Maoris there:The following is a copy of a message apparently forwarded to South Afri •ean newspapers by someone travel ling with the Springboks team, and published in the Daily Telegraph:— “Most unfortunate match ever played. Only as the result of great pressure being brought to bear on Mr Bennett induced them to meet the Maoris, who had assisted largely in the entertainment of the Springboks. It was bad enough having to play a team officially designated the New Zealand natives, but the spectacle of thousands'of Europeans frantically cheering on a band of coloured men to defeat members of their own race was too much for the Springboks, who were frankly disgusted. , "That was not the worst. The crowd was the most unsportsmanlike experienced on the tour, especially the section who lost all control of their feelings. When .not ‘booing’ referee they indulged in Sarcastic remarks at his expense. On many occasions the Africans were hußt, and the crowd, without waiting for the possibility of immediate recovery, shouted, ‘Take him off! Take him off!’ ' “Their faithful coloured allies proved loyal to New Zealand, lor, in addition to a serious injury to Kruger’s leg, Van Heerden stay off the field for fifteen .minutes, and others were limping badly. The Maoris flung their weight about, regardless of the niceties of the game!” Mr Bennett, the Springboks’ manager, has replied to the Maori telegram as follows: “Thanks.'for telegram. You should not take notice of unauthorised newspaper talk. We are not responsible for alleged cable, which does not in any way represent'Pur views. Regret you should have telegraphed in such insulting strain without making proper inquiry.” Mr Bennett completely repudiates the above cable. It was written'’and dispatched without the knowledge 0' any member of his team or the officials, connected with it. The author "of the message was, he said, a newspaper correspondent* who had since expressed his regret, to the team to/ his action, and explained that it was written in the heat of the moment; also that he had deeply regretted his action only a short time alter he had placed the message on the wire. “Tills Springboks to a man,” Mr Bennett continued, “are entirely blameless in the matter, and it conveys an altogether false impression oi the match. The whole of my team and the officials are very much hurt, because the Maoris have been parti-cu-larly hospitable towards us. They were certainly not guilty of any dirty play, and we have certainly not been a party to hurting their feelings in any way. On behalf of the whole of my associates I wish to give the .report an absolutely unqualified denial.” Mr Bennett went on to state tha* according to cabled advices he had ceived that day, it would appee - ' ie " the South African papers had a . . ed from publishing the m ure ia * n * cidentally-he remarked ‘ ef ! sage ‘ n " matter for deep rer /" "T 3 of the Press of 8> that , f “ ct, ° n tished a repor* f and had f”' character, a-' ‘,° ' . ■> id stated that the mischief would hr , , , x a cabl* v ' e never been clone but * or j v .‘ j leakage. This leakage was, ever, being made the subject of uvestigation by the Government, as clearly, on the face of it, it was a serious thing to make public what was a private message.

MAORI MANAGER’S COMMENT. Wanganui, September 14. Mr W. T. Parata, the manager and organiser of the Maori team, expresses regret that the conduct of a certain section of the mixed crowd should have left room for compJaint. Mr Parata and members of his team desire to state that they feel very grateful for the privilege and honour’ extended Jo the Maoris by Mr Bennett, manager of the Springboks, in agreeing to play this game. They also wish to say the Maoris believe in playing a keen, hard game, but are just, as interested in maintaining the best traditions of the Rubgy code, and anxious not to depart from the niceties and beauties of'the game.