No debate on S.A.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 3

No debate on S.A.

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 19. The South African sports administrator, Dr D. H. Craven, is not prepared publicly to debate his country’s racial policies with the South African Coloured spokesman, Mr Dennis Brutus. He said this in Auckland today, in reply to a statement by the secretary of C.A.R.E. (Mr T. O. Newnham) that his organisation was willing to fly Mr Brutus from London to debate the issue. “I am not prepared to talk to Mr Brutus,” said Dr Craven. “If I talk to him he will talk politics. He

wants to bring politics into sport, I want to keep it out. “I had a similar debate last time I was in England, with Peter Heine and one other on one side, and me on the other. They wanted to talk nothing but politics, and that leads to nothing. “I’m willing to debate Rugby with anyone. My Government looks after politics, I look after Rugby,” he said. Mr Newnham said of Dr Craven’s attitude . . . “As ‘Mr Rugby’ in South Africa, Dr Craven is directly responsible for denying non-whltes the chance to wear a Springbok jersey. He cannot pass the buck to the politicians.

“Mr Vorster made it clear during the recent election campaign that there is no law against mixed-race sport in South Africa and that it is the sports administrators who make the rules of their organisations. If there is a law forbidding mixed-race sport in South Africa, would Dr Craven please identify it?” Dr Craven said that he had not come to New Zealand—this is his sixth visit —.with any special mission. “I am here at the special Invitation of the Round Table, and am just addressing sportsmen’s gatherings.”