Tour Controversy A ‘Sorry Episode’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32324, 16 June 1970, Page 28

Tour Controversy A ‘Sorry Episode ’

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 15.

The continued rebuff by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Government would make those who opposed New Zealand’s association in sport with apartheid cynical and angry, the national chairman of the Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (the Rev. G. Wilson) said last night.

The two organisations were the real irresponsible elements in the whole sorry episode, be said. Mr Wilson, the vicar of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Wellington, gave what he described as a Christian comment on. the controversy. “One of the chief consequences of the way the All Black tour controversy has run its course will be the further alienation from the adult ‘establishment’ of this country of many sensible, intelligent young people who care deeply about the in-

justices and cruelties of a system such as apartheid. “They are not ignorant. They know what the score is —not the score in a Rugby match, but the score in the world struggle against poverty, oppression, militarism and racism. “It burns them up to see how insensitive to these evils their elders can be.” After the week-end of demonstrations and arrests in Wellington the community would no doubt be treated to the usual spate of newspaper editorialising about the Irresponsible elements in the community, said Mr Wilson. “The reference will be to the many young people—or at best those who have long hair—who have marched, and sat down on the street, who have shouted and argued and waved banners. “However, there will be no doubt in my mind that the really irresponsible elements in New Zealand, in this whole sorry episode, are the Rugby Union and the Government

“They have consistently sidestepped the basic issues at stake, and at the end came together to toast each other at a festive send-off in Parliament Buildings.” The rising generation thought in a much more global way about current issues, he said. They were much more aware than were their parents that racism was one of the handful of world problems threatening to destroy their future.

In the last 20 years many millions of coloured people had emerged from the colonial period of white European domination. The newly independent states were understandably cynical to see how the former colonial powers organised world trade, markets and investment capital so that they would continue to be at an advantage, Mr Wilson said.