The Rugby Tour

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 8

The Rugby Tour

Sir,—May I assure “Raglan” that nothwithstanding your note to his letter, apartheid in sport is not written into the South African Constitution. In your desire for crystal clarity you neglected to point this out. Objectors to the tour are now “on a good wicket” to use “Raglan’s” expression, and to his way of reasoning. Personally I prefer to base my reasoning on fundamental human rights and censure those who deny either the fact or the principle. Have you noticed that since the recent blood-bath in South Africa, supporters of vour editorial and the Rugby Union’s attitude favour anonymity in your columns? Under the circumstances so would I—Yours, etc R. J. HARRISON. March 25. 1960. [No correspondent who \has written on this subject over his own name is permitted to write subsequently over a nom-de-plume.—Ed.. “The Press.”]

Sir,—The cruel slaughter of unarmed natives, including innocent women and children, mowed down and kille# by rifles and machine-

guns of the South African Government to implement its inhuman apartheid policy, has shocked freedom-loving people everywhere. Surely in view of such turmoil in South Africa the New Zealand Rugby Union, along with the political leaders, will reconsider their wrongful decision by abandoning the proposed tour. I feel our players themselves will now not have the heart to go and condone such brutal racial tactics.—Yours, etc., REG. H. STILLWELL. March 25. 1960.

Sir,—A small militant band of self-impressed, affected “intellectuals” will today flaunt their immaturity through our streets. These are the students who will stage another All Black protest march. I am a full-time student at Canterbury, and come into contact with a fair cross-section of student opinion, and can honestly say that this march is totally unrepresentative of general student opinion. The average “uncultured” citizen <and Mr Nash, also) should realise that this precociously vocal brigade are not to be taken seriously. Some of them, at any rate, are bound to grow up one day.—' Yours, etc., P. ANDERSON. March 24, 1960.

Sir,—Racial preference presents a big problem. It should not be discussed as a side-issue to a football tour. A fair analogy should illustrate the point. A bouquet of flowers, including roses, should not be presented to anyone allergic to roses. The attractiveness of roses is not affected by one incident, however. Racialism is rampant in South Africa. The circumstance that make the noninclusion of Maori players unavoidable is regrettable. Nothing offensive is intended, however, and, according to the bard, none should be taken.—Yours, etc, T. E. SHAW. Westport, March 24, 1960.

Sir,—l have before me tne South African tour itinerary for the All Blacks. I observe that on June 8 they are to play at Windhoek, South-west Africa, where about six weeks ago there was a virtual blood bath. I know that country very well, not as a casual visitor; I claim to be one of the two first civilians to be granted civilian rignts from the German Imperial Army in 1905 during the Herero rebellion. The main white population of that vast portion of South Africa outside the German militay forces were former Boers, who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the King after the Boer War and crossed the border and joined tne Vichsammelstelle as transport drivers. They lost no time in exhibiting their hatred at the British. They have remained there and bred tneir families. In view of the appointment of Mr Swart as Governor-General, with his distinct and known hatred of the British, do not subject our All Blacks to humiliation.—Yours, etc, HERBERT E. BARNSLEY. March 25. 1960.

Sir,—“Charity Begins at Home” speaks of the existence of racial discrimination in the North Island. That is so, up to a point, but a lot is put down to racial discrimination when it is really class distinction. It seems that class distinction is sometimes confused with racial discrimination. “C.8.H.” no doubt would be a misfit in a pakeha slum or out of place with the highly educated. Whatever the case may be, he would discriminate one way or the other A cultured Maori is superior to an ignorant pakeha.—Yours, etc, A.R. March 24, 1960.

Sir,—ln the light of recent events in South Africa, is the New Zealand Rugby Union altogether wise in sending its allwhite team to that country, where they may be subjected to embarrassment and humiliation, not to mention the possibility of being pelted with fruit or* rocks? —Yours, etc, SIDELINE. March 24, 1960.