Australian Ban On Rhodesian Golfers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 16

Australian Ban On Rhodesian Golfers

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, September 3. Australia will not admit a team of Rhodesian golfers which accepted an invitation to compete in Australia in the Eisenhower Cup.

The Immigration Department has confirmed that the Eisenhower Cup team, and a Rhodesian Ladies’ Golf Union team, invited to contest the Esperito Santo Trophy, will not be given visas. An official of the department said the Australian stand was in line with the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on sanctions against Rhodesia. Another sportsman who could be affected by the ban is the South African cricketer, C. Bland, due to play in the world championship series in Australia next month. Bland plays for South

Africa, but travels on a Rhodesian passport.

Any person travelling with a Rhodesian passport would be refused admission to New Zealand, a spokesman for the Department of External Affairs, said in Wellington today. The ban, he said, was in accord with the Security Council resolution. However, in certain exceptional humanitarian circumstances where a decision had been taken by the Minister of External Affairs and the Minister of Internal Affairs’ a Rhodesian would be allowed to enter the country. The Government’s ruling would prevent Rhodesian sportsmen from competing in New Zealand. Last week the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) announced that New Zealand would support the Security Council’s resolution for a total trade ban against Rhodesia.