Tour Protesters SEVEN ARRESTED AT FUNCTION FOR TEAM

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 1

Tour Protesters SEVEN ARRESTED AT FUNCTION FOR TEAM

(New Zealand Preu Association)

WELLINGTON, June 11.

Police arrested seven demonstrators outside Parliament Buildings tonight after protests timed to coincide with the Government function to bid farewell to the All Black team which will tour South Africa. Inspector R. C. Joyce, in charge of the police contingent restraining the demonstrators, said he believed all those arrested would be charged with disorderly conduct. He said the handling of the situation by the police.was satisfactory.

“People were kept under control, so we achieved our objective,” he said. “The demonstrators were noisy, but only a small number caused us any difficulty.”

After the All Blacks had left Parliament Buildings, police remained on duty until all the demonstrators had dispersed. Before the demonstrators left they were exhorted by organisers to attend demon strations in the city tomorrow night to continue the antitour protest More than 300 demonstrators (some shown in picture at right), marched on Parliament Buildings tonight but the All Blacks had arrived 10 minutes before them. Unaware that the 30 players and their managers were already inside the buildings, the banner-waving crowd kept up chants of “stop the tour” and “racists.”

They booed and hissed as the 250 guests arrived for the reception.

Narrow Miss

Three paint-bombs and several flour bombs were hurled as the guests walked up the main steps. One of the paint bombs narrowly missed the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) who was standing on the steps watching the demonstration.

The crowd, which had diminished by half, erupted into a storm of chanting and booing when the All Blacks left '

A Wellington City Transport bus was parked at the foot of the steps and, led by the captain, B. J. Lochore, the All Blacks entered it without paying any attention to the demonstrators. As the demonstrators surged forward several police had to use two crush barriers to force them back. When the bus left the grounds and drove up Molesworth Street dozens of demonstrators ran after it One of them ran in front of the vehicle but when it kept going he jumped to one side.

Crush barriers were erected at the edge of the lawns to stop the crowd from getting close to the buildings The demonstrators were confronted by a line of more than 30 policemen. Other officers were stationed among the demonstrators.

Every time television crews lit up the scene with their floodlights the demonstrators started their chanting afresh —“One, two, three, four stop the racist Rugby tour,” and “Hooray for Gray," a refer-

ence to a former All Black, K. Gray, who retired because of his feelings on apartheid. Inside the buildings several detectives were on duty and officials from the Internal Affairs Department checked guests to make sure they had invitations. Opposed To Tour The guests included several Government ministers and a good representation of members of Parliament from both sides of the House. The only noticeable absentees were the four Maori members of Parliament, who are opposed to the tour. Mr W Wallace, aged 95, one of two survivors of the 1905 “Invincibles” which toured Britain, led representatives of practically every All Black team since 1905. Because of Mr Holyoake’s early absence, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) was host at the reception. Mr Seath said it would be futile to ignore the fact that there had been controversy about the tour. “The decisions have now been made and the tour is to go ahead,” he said. “Our purpose in gathering this evening is solely to send the team on its way as worthy emissaries of New Zealand Rugby.” He reiterated the Government’s policy of non-inter-ference with the affairs of sporting bodies. “1 feel sure that most New Zealanders, whatever their individual views may be on the controversial aspects to which 1 referred, will nevertheless follow the fortunes of the team on the Rugby field with avid interest,” he said. New Zealanders were quietly confident that the 1970 All Blacks were fully capable of meeting the South African players successfully in their own country. The game of Rugby had suited tile way of life in New

Zealand. “1 firmly believe that at home a common love of Rugby has contributed very substantially to the forming of even closer ties between Maoris and pakehas,” he said. The team manager (Mr R L. Burk) said the All Blacks were going to South Africa with one purpose—“not to be deviated from beating South Africans on their own dirt” Lochore brought loud cheers when he said: “Thank you for treating us as normal New Zealand representatives instead of monsters, as seme people would have us. I am proud to be a member of the first multi-racial side to go to South Africa.” Mr Holyoake, who arrived during Lochore’s speech, said he had not expected such a warm welcome. He assured Lochore that on Saturday there would be more people than ever before to see the team off when it left Wellington. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) said it was a pleasure to say farewell to the first fully representative New Zealand Rugby team to tour South Africa. Mr Watt said members of the Labour Opposition were not directed in any way as to whether they should or should not attend the official farewell, “The Press” correspondent reported. “For many years It has generally been the custom of governments to extend an official farewell to sporting teams from all sections of the community which are selected on a national basis,” Mr Watt said. Invitation* “Members of Parliament normally receive an invitation to these functions, and it is left to the member to determine whether he or she

is available to attend. However, it is the custom for all political parti es*to endeavour to ensure that they are represented. "The invitation extended to members to attend the official farewell to the 1970 All Blacks is on the same basis as all similar invitations in the past The Labour Party has never instructed its members as to which functions they should or should not attend. This has always been their own choice in the past, and I trust will be so tn the future. “Personally, I consider It my duty as acting leader of the party which represents almost 50 per cent of the population of the country to attend and extend my best wishes to the first fully New Zealand representative Rugby team to visit South Africa."