Tour debate dropped

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 1

Tour debate dropped

The Baptist Assembly decided yesterday in Christchurch that it would not spend time debating the proposed Springbok tour of New Zealand next year.

The Rev. B. C. C. Jenkins, the assembly press officer, said that the decision was made because people thought that the issue was a political and not a religious one, because they were tired of the topic, and because they opposed the motion. The motion was that the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Government should

press for a Springbok team selected on merit after multiracial trials. Discussion was terminated in mid-debate, and the assembly passed on to other business.

An original motion sought Baptist support for the postponement of the tour if the Springbok team was not chosen on merit after multiracial trials.

Mr H. Taylor (Christchurch) said that the matter did not concern the assembly, and that it should not be making statements on political issues. Several speakers agreed. Mr D. McClay (Baptist Young People) ’ said the assembly advocated raising a voice on moral issues, but

that when the opportunity arose to do so over the Springbok tour it backed down. “If this tour comes off it is going to bring New Zealand into one of the greatest crises it has ever faced. All New Zealand will be affected,” he said. “The Commonwealth Games will be boycotted. A few white countries will come, and perhaps one black one. The other black countries will keep their threat and not come. We all know that Mr Scott (chairman of the Games Organising Committee) returned from Munich a different man,” Mr McClay said.