Games Promotion Conference

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 12

Games Promotion Conference

The Commonwealth Games (New Zealand) Promotion delegates, in visits to 30 countries to promote Christchurch’s claims, will adopt what they believe to be the most realistic approach if taxed with New Zealand’s association with South Africa.

“We will suggest that the majority of New Zealanders believe that apartheid can best be sworn away by contact with the outside world,” said the vice-chairman (Mr R. S. Scott) at a special news conference attended by members ol the Christchurch City Council, adjacent borough councils and local sports bodies last evening.

“These countries may believe in the complete isolation of South Africa, but we believe New Zealand has a special role to play All countries can help, but each must ; use the method best suited to; itself,” Mr Scott said.

He described the part that each of the three delegations will play during their visits to most Commonwealth countries before they reach Edinburgh. “There will be occasions when we will be required to answer questions of a political nature. We hope to have all the details available,” Mr Scott said, praising the work lof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has prepared the manual each member will carry.

I The manual includes the reicord of voting by New Zealand in the United Nations on matters of racialism, statements on apartheid by prominent New Zealanders at home and abroad, and a broad outline of New Zealand’s aid programme involving Commonwealth countries. Mr Scott explained the route to be taken by the delegations, and the reasons | why even the tiniest of Commonwealth countries was included on the itinerary “The Isle of Man is just as important as any country, because it has one vote, the same as the biggest of them,” he said. Guernsey and Gibral-

tar are two other small places whose support will be sought, probably because bowls—a sport not included in the Melbourne programme —has a big following in both. “With names such as Mr Blazey (a former president of the New Zealand Rugby Union) and Mr Williams representing us in Wales, we should have little trouble in picking up the Welsh vote,” Mr Scott said. I The president of CommonI wealth Games Promotion (Mr A. I. Cottrell) introduced the members of the delegations, and said that they would do all within their power to help Christchurch’s chances. “We’ve been working for seven long years now, and I believe that no detail has been overlooked in putting forward the best possible application. If we are successful, it will be a great thing for this city and this country.” Mr Cottrell said. Mr Scott praised the work of Mr B. R. Walker, an auxiliary member of the promotion group, who is already in Edinburgh. He said that Mr Walker had acquired a “New

Zealand Room” and a venue for its pre-voting day function. The room will be in a shop opposite the Commonwealth Games Club, and has been paid for by New Zealand House, London. The highlight of last evening’s meeting was the screening of a 12-minute informative film, to be shown in each of the Commonwealth countries visited. The film is valued at between $7500 and $lO,OOO, but has been given free of charge by the National Film Unit.

Filmed in colour, it gave little hint that Christchurch suffered severely from drought last summer. The background music was from a Western film at present screening in Christchurch, and a New Zealand folk song by the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. The mood of the film was relaxed and humorous, and seemed to reflect the popular ideal of the New Zealand way of life. Its object Of showing Christchurch’s climate and sporting and accommodation facilities, and the conlpactness of the city, to best advantage was never lost.