Pay for State staff on S. Africa tours

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32848, 23 February 1972, Page 18

Pay for State staff on S. Africa tours

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 22.

Allegations that the Government is paying full salaries to Government servants, including teachers, who are members of the New Zealand women’s cricket and men’s softball teams now playing in South Africa, have been made by the Citizens Association for Racial Equality.

In a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sir Keith Holyoake) a copy of which was released for publication by C.A.R.E. today, the association’s secretary (Mr T. O. Newnham) said the payment of salaries was difficult to comprehend in view of the Government’s refusal to pay the salary of a young Maori lawyer who had been awarded a Churchill fellowship to study race relations overseas. "The reason giVen was that his overseas studies would not be of value to him in his work in the Public Trust Office,” said Mr Newnnam in his letter. “New Zealanders opposed to racism cannot see that the experience of plavmg racist sport in South Africa can be of any benefit

to New Zealand Government servants in their work.” The chairman of the State Services Commission (Mr I. G. Lythgoe), said tonight that the teams in South Africa were getting the same treatment as any other teams which were selected nationally. “They have to take some of their annual leave and they also receive some of their time awav on full pay,” he said.

Referring to the Churchill fellowship, Mr Lythgoe said that the lawyer was receiving additional assistance from the Government and had revised his programme so that he could receive a limited amount of leave on pay. “I understand this now meets his requirements.” Mr Lythgoe said. j