COLLEGE RUGBY SENSATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 345, 4 May 1928, Page 13

COLLEGE RUGBY SENSATION

ALLEGED COLOUR LINE MOASCAR CUP CONTESTS (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, To-day. When Mr. R. Macfarlane (East Coast) alleged at a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union that the reason that the Moascar Cup competition was in danger of extinction, was owing to the fact that a colour line was being drawn, it caused a sensation. Discussion on tlie cup was brought up by Mr. H. Charters (North Auckland) , principal of the Whangarei High School. He said that the reason for the withdrawal of some schools from the competition was owing to the fact that Te Aute College was too heavy. The talk of “gladiatorial contests” was all “bosh.” Mr. Macfarlane said that as Te Aute had to play quite a number of matches before that college won the cup, the talk of weight was not a factor. This question to the Maoris was very strong, and rightly or wrongly, they felt that now that the Maori College held the trophy the colour line was being drawn. Cries of “No, no,” from the delegates. “Well, that is what they think,” said Mr. Macfarlane. “If this competition is abolished it will confirm the Maori beliefs. Such a course would be a pity, for there is no finer football played anywhere in New Zealand than at this college, from which the well-known players, Nepia and Paewal, came,” continued Mr. Macfarlane. “Theer is no question of the colour in North Auckland,” said Mr. Charters. “My own team included three native boys.” Mr. E. McLeod, of Taranaki, said that in this country, feeling is swayed very largely by English headmasters and they have used the argument of the shield matches being “gladiatorial contests.” “We must deplore this discrimination against the Maori people, who are very sensitive,” said Mr. McLeod. Mr. S. S. Dean, Wellington, said that some colleges had their regular matches, yet never entered for the competition. Year by year teams have been dropping out. The same applied to the Vancouver Cup, which at the present time remains in the New Zealand Rugby Union’s office, and which was presented for contests among the primary schools. “The schools do not want trophies competed for by their boys. I am astounded to hear that the colour question has been introduced. That had nothing to do with it at all,” said Mr. Dean. It was decided to ask the Management Committee to take that question up again with the Headmasters’ Association.