N.Z. Cricket Tour Deplored By Racial Equality Body

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 3

N.Z. Cricket Tour Deplored By Racial Equality Body

The Canterbury Association for Racial Equality has expressed regret that the New Zealand Cricket Council has sent a team to South Africa to meet white South Africans practising apartheid on the cricket field. “While ignoring the existence of the South African Cricket Board of Control, which is multi-racial, the New Zealand Cricket Council seeks test status for the games played under the

aegis of the South. African (white) cricket association,” said the association in a statement. “The question of South Africa’s future membership of the Imperial Cricket Conference is stiU to be considered, and the West Indies, India, and Pakistan are known to be strongly opposed to allowing apartheid cricketers to be recognised as representatives of their country. “Also, news has come from London that the executive committee of the International Football Association has suspended the Football Association of South Africa ‘because of racial discrimination in the sport in South Africa.’ _ “The Canterbury Association for Racial Equality has expressed the hope that the New Zealand Cricket Council will ask the South African Cricket Association to arrange a match with a team from the multi-racial Cricket Board of Control, even if this involves cancelling one of the fixtures of the tour,” says the association. “While this approach to the South African Cricket Association places the onus on that body to establish its good faith, it also avoids any embarrassment to the multiracial organisation which a direct approach may cause in the presence of existing apartheid regulations. "It was with this in view that the Canterbury Association for Racial Equality asked on September 19 for the New Zealand Cricket Council to meet a deputation of responsible citizens to discuss the' proposal. “The Canterbury Association for Racial Equality does not consider that the matter can be allowed to lapse, and intends to take further action. “The C-A.RE. deputation includes the Rev. A. A. Brash, the Rev, S. F. Wolman, the Rev. M, Wilson, and Messrs R. Thompson, L. Christie, G. Troup, N. Gray, and K. Duffield.”