“Thomas Fuss Threat To Cricket Tour"

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31000, 4 March 1966, Page 15

“Thomas Fuss Threat To Cricket Tour"

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN. The South African Minister of the Interior, Senator Jan de Klerk, yesterday refused to comment on the inclusion of the New South Wales batsman, Grahame Thomas, in the Australian team to tour South Africa later this year.

Senator de Klerk told reporters that every application for a visa would be considered on its merit. There have been press reports in Australia and Britain that the selection of Thomas, who is said to be of North American Indian extraction and has a slightly swarthy complexion, might become an issue between Australian selectors and the South African apartheid policy of race separation. Under South African laws, whites are not allowed to play sport with non-whites. Government’s Attitude Senator de Klerk was questioned about Thomas’s selection by the Cape Town proGovernment Afrikaans language morning newspaper, “Die Burger.” “Die Beeld,” the new Afri-

kaans language Sunday national newspaper which is published by “Die Burger,” had a front page story on Sunday which said that the South African Department of Foreign Affairs was fully aware of the Government’s attitude about a visa for Thomas. The political correspondent of “Die Beeld” said, that whether or not Thomas was selected for the tour of South Africa there would still be a fuss about him, and it could threaten the tour.

The correspondent added that “this cricket storm” followed soon after the Rugby controversy between South Africa and New Zealand on the Maori issue which led to a decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union not to send a touring team to the Republic. A spokesman for the South African embassy in Canberra said yesterday that as far as he was concerned Thomas was not coloured. Asked if there was any objection to Thomas touring South Africa, Mr Venter said: "None whatever. “As far as we are concerned he is not coloured, and he will be quite welcome.” “Just About Had This” Thomas, a 27-year-old sales representative with a Sydney printing firm, refused to comment on the matter. He said: “I’ve just about had this. “I won’t comment on this at all. My policy throughout has been not to make any comment whatever on the matter.”