CRICKET TOUR

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 13

CRICKET TOUR

Denial by Graaf (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN, April 21. The Leader of the South African Opposition United Party (Sir de Villiers Graaf) said today that Australian moves to boycott the South African cricket tour were bitterly resented by patriotic South Africans who were determined to settle their own affairs in their own way. Commenting on a Sydney report of a telephone interview, he gave with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Sir de Villiers Graaf said that it had not reflected accurately what occurred. “At no stage did I suggest that the United Party was promoting multi-racialism in South Africa," he said.

“Party policy on the question of mixed South African teams to play both in the republic and abroad is quite clear. It is that, if so requested by the national controlling bodies of the various sports, the United Party would be prepared to consider a relaxation of any hindering legislative enactments to enable South Africa to be represented abroad and in South Africa by mixed teams, and would be prepared to allow mixed trials, held in South Africa, to select those teams. “When I was asked' (on the A.B.C. programme) for my reaction to certain Australian moves to boycott the South African cricket tour of Australia, I replied that this was bitterly resented here by patriotic South Africans who were determined to settle their own affairs in their own way, and that outside interference merely got their backs up”