CANCELLED TOUR

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 13

CANCELLED TOUR

‘Unacceptable decision’

(N.Z.P A.Reuter—Copyright

CANBERRA, Feb 20

The Australian Govern[ment's action over the nowcancelled Australian cricket tour of South Africa was “an unwarranted and unacceptable infringement on the basic freedoms of citizens,” the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs. Mr Andrew Peacock, said today. “The Opposition Liberal and Country Parties regret the (Australian Cricket Board of Control’s decision to cancel I the tour, not because we supjport apartheid — we emphatically do not — but because Iwe do support a free society,” (Mr Peacock said. | The board announced yesterday that it had abandoned the tour because of the Government’s opposition to it. | “No matter how the Government may attempt to construe it, it has directly imposed limits on an Australian I sporting team — a private ! non-Govemment group,” Mr (Peacock said. “The Government’s rejection of a visa application bv the leader of South African I cricket, Mr Boon Wallace , >s (an example of its blindly ideological and negative approach to the issue. | “The Government's approach does not fit in with 'the spirit of co-operation (needed to change South African policies and bring about multi-racial cricket.”