Rugby Tour May Cost Support For Games

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 40

Rugby Tour May Cost Support For Games

(N.Z P .4. Staff Correspondent)

SINGAPORE, June 12.

The All Black tour of South A frica will probably cost New Zealand the support of Malaysia and Singapore—two close Commonwealth friends in South-East Asia—in its bid for the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

Sports officials in both countries will not comment publicly on the issue, but privately they say they will not be able to vote for Christchurch as the 1974 venue when the question is decided at Edinburgh next month. “The Rugby tour has put us in a very embarrassing position.” said one Malaysian official.

“We would very much like to support the Christchurch bid. but we will be unable to if the| African countries make an issue of it,” he said. Officials of both nations

admit frankly that political considerations will dictate their attitudes at Edinburgh The head of each respective Olympic Council is a Cabinet Minister, and both Governments are bitterly opposed to South African policies Neither Government has

diplomatic delations with South Africa. Malaysia openly opposes sporting ties with South Africa, and was a prime mover in removing her from the Davis Cup contest Both countries were on the i verge of joining the threat|ened African boycott of the 1 Edinburgh Games, when this year’s South African cricket tour of Britain was called off. There is a great deal of good will towards New Zealand, and the Christchurch bid has plenty of sympathy. In conversation with officials, it appears that both countries would vote for Christchurch in preference to Melbourne, without hesitation, but for the All Black tour. “TOOLS OF APARTHEID” The departing All Blacks have been labelled “tools of apartjieid” by the secretary of the Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality (Mr T. O. Newnham)., He said today: “With no clear statement of purpose forthcoming from those at the helm, the 1970 All Blacks going to South Africa to play racist Rugby can only be regarded by the world as tools of apartheid.” The All Black tour was morally wrong, but it was not for him to tell players and supporters they should not go, said the member of Parliament for Eastern Maori (Mr P. D. Reweti). “It is up to the individual and his conscience,” Mr Reweti said. Two workmen this morning began cleaning paintspattered parts of the main entrance to Parliament Buildings—caused by anti-AU Black tour demonstrators last evening. Demonstrators fired sev--1 eral red paint “bombs”— ' some of them aimed at guests ■arriving—which burst against the main steps, pillars, and | wall of the main entrance, j The workmen were using paint stripper and wire

brushes, but it was proving a hard job. One of the men said that it would take at least two days to remove the paint.,