STUDENTS' DECISION Boycott threat main factor

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32879, 30 March 1972, Page 2

STUDENTS ' DECISION Boycott threat main factor

The decision of the University of Canterbury Students’ Representative Council to deny the use of student facilities for the Commonwealth Games

if the Springbok tour took place had been made in the light of the threatened boycott of the Games by African and possibly West Indian nations, said the president of the Students’ Association (Mr J. Crichton) last evening.

“The spectre of a whites-only Games in Christchurch is a very real one,” Mr Crichton said. “New Zealand has incurred the displeasure, even disgust, of .the United Nations world community in maintaining its sporting contacts with South Africa.” It appeared certain, he said, that the threatened boycott of the Games would take place unless New Zealand changed its present policy of sporting contacts with South Africa. “My association has made the most effective stand it can by denying the use of Student Union facilities to the Commonwealth Games organisation if those sporting contacts with South Africa continue,” Mr Crichton said. The chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (Mr R. S. Scott) said yesterday that the loss of communal dining facilities for Games competitors would be a serious blow to the Games. “We seem to be the meat in the sandwich,” he said. “But we must go ahead and plan the Games on the assumption that all Commonwealth countries will compete. “Presumably, if there were no boycott by any Commonwealth countries there would be no student ban on the

use of the Ham Student Union buildings,” Mr Scott , said. The loss of the buildings i would lose for the Games ; the dining facilities; a medical centre; postal, banking, ' and shopping services; and a 1 sports track for training. Mr Crichton said that a , special meeting of students , at the university would probably be held within three weeks to consider what fur- , ther action would be taken over the use of student facilities by the Games organisa- ; tion.