H.A.R.T. CONFIDENT

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 2

H.A.R.T. CONFIDENT

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The Halt All Racist Tours organisation ended its first annual meeting in Wellington today confident that there was little chance' of the Springbok tour being made next year.

The two-day meeting, attended by delegates from 75 [branches, concluded with the , prediction: “By June (next j year), there won’t be any tour Ito stop.” I The business and discus-'

sion was held in committee today, as delegates concentrated much of their attention on tactics to adopt in order to prevent the tour.

It was decided that regional conferences should be held in the North Island and South Island early in 1973. After the congress, a spokesman said that if the tour should go ahead, the organisation was “fully operational” in every centre where a game was likely to be held.

The organisation had no illusions about the new Government, said the national chairman (Mr R. T. Richards) in an address yesterday. He said there were many who “treat with suspicion a

Government whose policy in Opposition is different to what it appears likely to adopt as the Government.” “Certainly we have no illusions about the Labour Government,” he added. “Mr Kirk is no Gough Whitlam, and the New Zealand Labour! Party is no Australian Labour Party. If it does take a decisive and meaningful stand on the 1973 Springbok Rugby tour, we will welcome it, and treat it as a bonus.” Direct action, Mr Richards said, was effective and morally justified. Should the tour proceed, many New Zealanders would be prepared to risk imprisonment for their beliefs.