Government move to free Todds

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 2

Government move to free Todds

.. (New Zealand Press Association) - WELLINGTON, February 10. The Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) is seeking to inform Mr lan Smith of the concern felt by New Zealand about the detention of Mr Garfield Todd and his daughter by the Rhodesian authorities.

Mr Marshall said in a statement that New Zealand did not recognise the Smith regime in Rhodesia, so there could be no direct communication with Mr Smith. But he had asked the British Government to pass a personal message from him to Mr Smith.

“The Government has been studying the situation in Rhodesia closely in the period since Mr Todd was detained,” said Mr Marshall.

"We have been disturbed to see that the Todds have been detained without formal charges being laid against

them. Nor has any satisfactory explanation or justification of the detention been forthcoming from the Rhodesian authorities. “The detention of the Todds is a limitation of the freedom of expression which it was agreed should exist during this period.” Mr Marshall said this appeared to be the conclusion of Lord Pearce, the chairman of the British Commission at present making the test of acceptability in Rhodesia. “Mr Todd is by birth a New Zealand citizen, and is entitled to the protection afforded by his citizenship,” Mr Marshall said. "A reasonable time has passed for the Rhodesian authorities to act in accordance with the rule of law which would reI quire that the Todds should, if they are to be detained, Ibe charged with offences against the law and be brought to trial. “If this is not done they ould be released.” Mr Marshall said that in > circumstances he had deed that the New Zealand j )

Government was fully justified in asserting its interests and responsibilities in the case and in making its views known forcefully to Mr Smith.

“The text of the message will be published after it has been delivered in Salisbury,” he said. Mr Todd’s sister, Mrs Stella Salisbury, of Oamaru, and his nephew, Mr Allan Todd of Tawa, expressed- pleasure With the statement when it was shown to them after they had seen the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sir Keith Holyoake) this morning. They said Sir Keith Holyoake had told them the statement was to be issued, but had not told them its contents.

Mrs Salisbury said she felt Mr Marshall’s message would achieve something. It was a good step to have taken, and now they would await with some impatience the outcome and the full text of the message.