CRICKET TOUR

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 15

CRICKET TOUR

Debate Plea Rejected (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, May 27. A Conservative Party demand for an emergency debate on the Government’s role in the halting of the tour of England by the South African cricket team was rejected yesterday by the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker ruled that the House had not been called back from its Whitsun holiday to take up such matters as the tour, which was .cancelled last Friday. Mr Victor Goodhew had called for a debate on “the failure of the Home Secretary to protect the right of British subjects to go about their lawful occasions, as instanced by his part in the cancellation of the South African cricket tour.” Mr Goodhew told the House: “We have had a case of a perfectly lawful cricket tour by a South African cricket team, desired by the majority of people in this country, cancelled as a direct result of the Home Secretary’s pressure on the Cricket Council in the face of threats by a violent and militant minority. “Now there have been threats to hundreds of companies trading lawfully with South Africa. If these companies were to cave in, like the Home Secretary, this would have a disastrous and immediate effect on Britain’* balance of payments, anc would threaten the jobs oi many thousands of British subjects.”