Pro-tour groups to meet P.M.

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33158, 23 February 1973, Page 1

Pro-tour groups to meet P.M.

Organisations favouring the Springbok Rugby tour this year would meet the Prime Minister (Mr kirk) next Tuesday to try to persuade him that the Government should not interfere in an issue which they believed was none of its business, Mr K. Peacock, vice-chairman of the Association Defending South African Tours, said last evening.

The association has written to Mr T. E. Skinner. presi-[ dent of the Federation of! Labour, saying that before he makes any more statements! [on the tour he should obtain! an opinion by a secret ballot | of rank-and-file union mem-! bers. “Most pro-tour organisations have been approached' by union officials from time to time expressing their; deep concern that you have spoken out against the tour without first consulting them,” the letter says. “We are sure that your views do not represent the majority of ; your members.” The association says that 1 if Mr Skinner “interferes any 1 further” it will urge unions to hold their own secret ballots and make the results 1 public. j

In Nelson last evening, Mr R. Fenton, the national prei sident of W.A.R.D., said that the New Zealand Rugby i Union had a serious obliga- ! tion to the rest of the sport[ing community and it would ! be a tragedy if its council today did anything but stand , resolute and firm and even [“invite the Government to take action against a law- , ful sporting body if it dared.” Mr Fenton was addressing about 60 persons who had gathered to form a local branch in Nelson. The district, with 200 paid-up members, was described as the ■ fastest growing branch of W.A.R.D. in New Zealand. - “I believe the time has come when the Rugby Union •.stands as a bastion of freejdom for all sports and it has

■ to show the Government, the Federation of Labour, and : the churches that it does not intend to yield its sove- ■ reignty to anyone,” said Mr ■ Fenton. I He suggested that the vari■;ous threats from African and II coloured Commonwealth i countries not to compete in > the Commonwealth Games • should be examined very t closely. These threats were not coming from the athletes, ; but from the countries’ Govl ernments and ministries of I sport. “I think there is an answer - to these people when they ! say they will not come to f our Games if the Springbok tour is not cancelled. That ; is: ‘lf you want to comi promise one of our sports for - another, then please do not > I come’,” he said.