Reports Of Division In South Africa “False”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29555, 3 July 1961, Page 7

Reports Of Division In South Africa “False”

The suggestion that there was a marked division between South Africans of British descent and those of Dutch descent was com. ■pletely false, said Mr G. G. Hoexter, a South African lawyer who is visiting Christchurch. Mr Hoexter said there were differences between them but they could be likened to the differences between persons who lived in the South Island and those in the North Island--“some jocular banter, ing, but going no further than that.” He said that these differences had been magnified by newspaper reports to the stage where persons outside South Africa could be excused ‘ for believing that

South Africa was divided internally. Tn South Africa the people regarded themselves as South Africans. not British or Dutch, he said. Mr Hoexter said that Rugby in South Africa unfortunately had many of the traits it had in New Zealand. It had become a national religion, which had not done the sport any good. As a casual observer of Rugby he hoped that the French team would teach New Zealand the lesson it taught South Africa in 1958 —that Rugby was a game for passing and running, not a battle of forwards with all its associated grimness. Mr Hoexter, who conceived the idea of visiting New Zealand after meeting

New Zealand servicemen in the Middle East dwing the Second World War, said he had only one criticism to make of New Zealand: he could not understand why a country which produced such a high standard of primary produce should have such poor food in restaurants. He added that he was mystified by the tews of the country which forbade the drinking of wine with meals in restaurants. The food and service he had received in New Zealand hotels had been of a very high standard, said Mr Hoexter.