Panel discusses Rugby tour

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 4

Panel discusses Rugby tour

If the Springbok tour of New Zealand was cancelled now it would appear to be for the wrong reasons—because of the threat of violence and polarisation of the nation—a former Canterbury Rugby selector. Dr J, D. Stewart, said on Sunday evening.

Dr Stewart, who was one' of a panel of four who spoke on the tour in the Papanui ! Methodist Hall said that: ! Rugby was a “Whipping boy” in the apartheid issue, and that the opposition to other sporting contacts I with South Africa was “really only token.” From a Rugby point of view, he was not particularly concerned whether the tour took place or not, he said. But he wondered whether refusing to play sport with countries was an effective way of trying to meet the ! deep-seated problems of the world. Even if opposition had led: to South Africa holding: mixed trials and even includ-j ing one or two black players! in a team, he said it would: not have affected the basic: apartheid issue one iota. “50 FUTILE YEARS” Mr N. S. Roberts, a lecturer in political science, said New Zealand had been playing Rugby with South Africa i for 50 years, and “. . . the : bridges we have built, have achieved nothing at all.” Any progress that had been made was a result of boycotts, not bridge-building, he said. Stopping the tour of New Zealand would be felt in South Africa, because South Africans placed great importance on Rugby, and in particular, on Rugby with New Zealand. Mr L. M. O'Reilly, a barrister and solicitor, said he: was in favour of dialogue! and communication, and did; not feel that boycotts had been successful. “We have' brought around men like Dr! Craven, and I have never : heard him speak out like he! has lately.” But, he said, he would not! advance any strong argu- i ments in favour of the tour,; because it was an issue on! which he felt there was not! a clear argument. People must ask them-! selves what they were aiming! at, Mr O’Reilly said. In 1968,! 45 per cent of the South!

African Olympic team had been black, but this had done nothing for the situation of the black people at home in South Africa. “CHRISTIAN ISSUE” Mr W. A. Meates, a former All Black, said he felt nothing was gained by “building bridges.” Dialogue was good, but it took two parties. “My attitude to the tour is that every Christian must base his stand on whether he follows Christ or not. His teaching is very simple, and I do not think that they should come.” The one sport which would really affect the South Africans, he said, was Rugby. Airliner scare

The captain of a British airliner threw what was! thought to be a bomb out of! his aircraft into the Irish Sea last night, during a flight) from Belfast to Glasgow. A; stewardess found a parcel ■ with wires protruding from! it in the aisle of the passenger cabin, and no-one admitted knowledge of it. The pilot brought the aircraft down to 5000 feet, opened a window, and dropped the parcel out. —Belfast, November 5.