Rugby chib accused of being bought
(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 1. The Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Rata) has accused the Ponsonby Rugby Club of allowing itself to be bought and used to give respectability to apartheid.
Discussing the Ponsonby club’s proposed tour of South Africa, Mr Rata, who was speaking at the annual meet-: ing of the Citizens’ Associ-; ation for Racial Equality,; said that sport was not sac-! 'rosanct to human consider- 1 ations. “It cannot divorce itself from this country’s longterm view of equality.
“It surprises me that some sports codes are allowing I themselves to be used to give respectability to apartheid. We have to pity them because they have not the moral responsibility to their code or to mankind,” said Mr Rata. The Government could i accept idealological differ-! ences with various regimes,] but the South African policy!
was a biological one. The Government, Mr Rata said, had a duty to cancel; the 1970 All Black tour to South Africa, but now there was a flood of applications by clubs. “We have no intention of interfering with the movement and freedom of individuals but we do expect clubs like Ponsonby particularly, which has 60 per cent; of the Polynesian population! in the country living in its] area, to be aware of their re-1
isponsibilities and not be attracted by the promise of fall air fares and hotel bills paid. “We would like to think that people playing a code as; honourable as Rugby would be worth a bit more than that,” said Mr Rata. “If we value the game as! we ought, we should never! allow it to become a com-
modity to be traded for respectability. “I hope that the people, concerned will reconsider the! position of their own; consciences, if nothing else.! Apartheid must be defeated; wherever it exists.” Mr Rata added that New] .Zealand was one country that i j could help arguments ini I international forums because! lit was socially and culturally 'strong. I
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19741202.2.142
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33706, 2 December 1974, Page 18
Word Count
335Rugby chib accused of being bought Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33706, 2 December 1974, Page 18
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in