Mr Kirk backs call for conference

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 2

Mr Kirk backs call for conference

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 9. The Government ought not to become involved in sporting matters, but neither could it regard itself as an innocent bystander without a care or duty in respect of racial discrimination, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said today.

In a statement, he said I the cancellation of the 1 South African cricket | tour of Australia made l the devising of rules for 1 New Zealand sports con-j tacts even more urgent. , Some weeks ago, he said, ‘ a representative deputation had asked the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) to consider arranging a conference , of all interested parties with ( a view to establishing guide-. lines to determine the approach to such arrangements. The Government had been silent Mr Kirk said the Prime Minister had a duty to reply at once. "New Zealand does not want to see anything of the type of activity that developed in Australia in respect of the Springbok tour,” he said. "On the other hand, New Zealand does not want to be associated in any way with any action that could imply support for racial discrimination.” The Government ought not to become involved in sporting matters, . but neither could it regard itself as an innocent bystander without a care or duty in respect to racial discrimination. “NOT RACIST” “I believe that the sporting bodies of New Zealand are not racist, nor have their decisions been motivated by racial discrimination. But there is real concern about the South African situation," Mr Kirk said. He said there was little likelihood of any arrange- < ment being worked out unless there was an honest and frank exchange of views and < a desire to establish an ap-i proach to the matter which i was mutually acceptable. The best way was to bring all interested parties together at a conference. This should I be called by the Government, <

but it should not dominate proceedings. “If a conference is not held,” he said, “the Australian experience could inspire others to think that they may achieve by forcefulness results that ought to be achieved by common sense and constitutional means.” PICKET LINE A tiny knot of demonstrators picketed Parliament today of protest against the Government’s failure to make a decision on their call for a national conference on apartheid in sport The leader of the sevenstrong picket, Mr T. L. Richards, the chairman of H.A.R.T„ said that a large number of telegrams had been sent to the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) protesting about the failure to reach a decision, and letters had been sent to all Government members asking them to raise the matter at this morning’s Government caucus meeting, with which the demonstration had been timed to coincide. The picket line, outnumbered by police and reporters, took up its position at the back steps of Parliament about 9.45 a.m., and during the fifteen minutes remaining before caucus’s scheduled starting time, three Government M.P.s walked in past the picketers, whose placards said that those who were not part of the solution to apartheid were part of the problem. Only one of the M.P.s, Mr L. F. Sloane (Nat., Hobson) stopped to speak with the demonstrators. After this morning’s meeting of the Government caucus, Sir Keith Holyoake said the question had not been discussed at the caucus. DECISION WELCOMED Mr Richards welcomed the Australian decision to cancel the proposed South

African tour of Australia. He said he was "delighted” at the decision.

Cricket was one of South Africa’s favourite sports, he said, and now South African cricket was isolated from the rest of the world. “Now, hopefully,” he said “we may see a change of attiture in South Africa.” If the former British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) and the Australian Prime Minister (Mr McMahon) could get tours called off, he said, the New Zealand Prime Minister should at least be able to convene a conference on the subject. He said it was anticipated that such a conference would be attended by representatives of sporting organisations, anti-apartheid groups, and possibly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.