Squash team to go to South Africa

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 1

Squash team to go to South Africa

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, June 17.

The New Zealand Squash Rackets Association will take part in a world squash tournament in South Africa. The association’s president (Mr D. L. Green) announced this decision in Hamilton before naming the team to play

Association officials had met officials of H.A.R.T. and C.A.R.E., Messrs T. L Richards and T. O. Newnnam, on Saturday to discuss New Zealand’s participation in the tournament.

Mr Green said that the association appreciated the opportunity of receiving delegations from H.A.R.T. and C.A.R.E. Their views had been carefully considered, and the association’s committee had been impressed by the sincerity of the delegation’s views” and the manner in which they had been presented.

Mr Green emphasised that the association had at no stage supported apartheid. The history of squash showed that the sport welcomed and encouraged players of all races, colours, and creeds. THE TEAM The New Zealand team chosen is: N. Barbour (Henderson), L. Greene (Hamilton), S. O’Dwyer (Wellington Collegians), and J. Stevens

(Remuera). Non-travelling reserves are H. Broun (Hamilton) and D. Burmeister (North Shore). A notable absentee from the team is the winner of today’s North Island open championship, T. Johnston (Rotorua), who is unavailable.

In confirming that a team would go to South Africa, the association wished to point out that the world series was controlled by the International Squash Rackets Federation, and it was merely the result of a roster system that the event would be held in South Africa, Mr Green said.

“It was a unanimous decision of the I.S.R.F. at a meeting attended by delegates representing 11 countries, including India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Republic, to stage the event in South Africa,” Mr Green said. All member countries had been invited to attend and had been advised that their players would be welcome without any restriction or reservation. All teams compet-

in the tournament.

ing would be selected on merit. .

The event was not a tour arranged by South Africa but a world championship held on a regular basis, said Mr Green. SEALED ENVELOPE “The association does not believe that sending a team to the event is acting against the guidelines suggested by the New Zealand Government,” he said. “Indeed, the association feels that the team selected consists of intelligent, concerned sportsmen who will have the opportunity to reaffirm that squash, like all sport, should be freely available to those wishing to play it.”

Mr Green said that each team member would be given a sealed envelope which H.A.R.T. and C.A.R.E. had asked be distributed through the association. The envelope contains a letter from Mr Richards, and information on South Africa. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) declined in Auckland this evening to comment on the decision to send the team to South Africa.