‘THREAT NOT PERSONAL’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 1

‘THREAT NOT PERSONAL ’

The threat on his life is not regarded by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman (Mr R. S. Scott) as a personal threat, “but really one to the whole Games activity.’’

Mr Scott said yesterday that the threat was probably directed at the activity of the Games. “I’m sure that no-one will sweat about the threat,” he said.

Police, however, are investigating the threat which was made in a letter received by Mr Scott on Saturday at the Games headquarters office. Mr Scott said police would carry out some investigations because nobody knew whether the threat was serious. “Whatever happens we will continue with the organisation and running of the Games.”

The letter, posted from Napier, comprised two typewritten pages and the address on the envelope was handwritten.

The man did go to the trouble of sending the letter to a newspaper, Mr Scott said. A television news item last evening said the letter to Mr Scott contained a threat to the Ugandan team.

“This is untrue — there was no reference to any

national team at all,” Mr Scott told “The Press” last evening.

There were indications that the sender of the letter felt resentment over the cancellation of the Springbok Rugby tour, said Mr Scott.

There were several references in the letter to the way in which the Government was running the country along with the statement that “New Zealand was moving away from democracy.”

Mr Scott said that he had received threatening letters in the past over the Games, but that this was the first one which he had turned over to the police.

“I felt that this was an instance where it was better to put the matter in the hands of the police,” he said. “They are the experts and as far as I am concerned I am putting the whole matter out of my head.” Mr Scott said that he had not requested any special protection for either himself or his family.