The Lights go out on the Empire

I borrow a caption from T. C. Worsley's "The End of the Old School Tie" to introduce two such problems, one of which is being discussed everywhere, the other, much more serious is being under-emphasised by the newspapers and ignored by the public.

The first is the exclusion of Maoris from the All Black team to tour South Africa. There is little that is new to be said on this subject. Colour prejudice is not tolerated by most New Zealanders and it is opposed to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Does Mr. Malan think that four or five Maoris touring South Africa will precipitate an African revolution? New Zealand must stand firm on the issue. A selection which excludes men because their skin is brown cannot give a representative team.

The other question is the repressive action being taken by the British Government in Malaya. Raising the cry of "Communist Bandits" the representatives of the wealthy rubber planters and tin miners have brought in British troops and Dyak head hunters to enforce their decrees banning the Malayan Trade Union Movement and the organisation of self-government in Malaya. A reporter who questioned some of the Dyaks found that they did not even know to what country they were being sent. It looks to me like a revival of the old colonial policy of Great Britain—"Keep the natives in their place, keep wages low and guard our profits!"

A. McLeod.