W.A.R.D. founder spells out his philosophy

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33817, 14 April 1975, Page 22

W.A.R.D. founder spells out his philosophy

Sj a staff writer l "\\ estern man has to regain something of his former muscle, abandon the policy of appeasement, and check the striding anarchism menacing his sport, his culture and his heritage." says Mr Robert Fenton, founder of the War \gainst Recreational Disruption organisation.

Mr Fenton's book. "Sinners at the Stadium' has been published by the Etho.-’l Publishing Companx. Hast-) ings. Mr Fenton discusses the; reasons why he formed W.A.R.D. tn 1972 and for his opposition to the threat of[ violent disruption of sport in New Zealand m the last two years. He records impressions of sports organisations and policies formed during a visit to South Africa and Rhodesia. • BLUFFING MACHINE” “The African Supreme Council of Sport is the greatest bluffing machine in the history of sport. The bluff must be called before the next Commonwealth Games and must never be permitted to compromise the Olympiad again,” says Mr Fenton in his concluding chapter. “The Olympic Oath, ringing false in the stadium from which the guiltless have been exiled, mocks the blind figure of Justice and heralds triumph for the vandals. “The men with their backs Ito the wall cannot hold out [alone. The African of SouthI ern Africa, looking with tear lat those who call him broth[er, entreats his new-found comrades in the realm of Christendom to summon courage and advance. “Kind men. branded as racists by the radical misfits j who use sport as theiri battleground, view their detractors with revulsion as they continue to strive for harmony in complex societies.

“Brave men, black and white, regard with apprehension the fatalism of their retreating companions and! friends. The charitable and! the gallant will fail without' the strong.”

HYPOCRISY CHARGES Mr Fenton also makes | charges of hypocrisy against I the World Council of! Churches, the United! Nations, the International! Court of Justice, and the Or-1 ganisation of African Unity: 1 he deplores the attitudes of Government and politicansi in New Zealand towards! South African sports teams,; and he recalls his ex-i periences in radio and tele-1 vision debates during the) controversy on whether a Springbok Rugby team! should tour New Zealand in 1973. More than 5000 New Zealanders support Mr Fenton’s attitude sufficiently to join his organisation. Many thousands more would probably agree with him, but without the passion which shows in every page of this book.

some of Mr l entons alle-, gations are at least worth more than a cursory dismissal; some of his information about the advances in racially integrated sport in South Africa will be news to 1 almost all New Zealanders Unfortunately. Mr Fenton! has not been able to separate the strands of his interests sufficiently to present them coherently and readably. "The fitting of jigsaw pieces by the dogged explorer of international perfidx will frequently illuminate, events that appear unrelated.” he tells his readers/ Mr Fenton has too many pieces jumbled together: he seems to see a master plot behind many of the events he describes; but he seldom offers reliable evidence to support his allegations. THE AIM At least this book should establish quite clearly that the aim of Mr Fenton, and of W.A.R.D. is not to support South Africa or its policies. He believes in multiracial sport and in sport’ free from political interference. That is a worthy object. He also believes that! international boycotts do no good, especially when they are applied so selectively by; countries whose own per-1 formances will sometimes!

[iiot beai close sirutiny. 1 hat • is more arguable And he regards the thteaof violent disruption of sports events by a minority group with political objects as a deplorable form of blackmail That is not easi! contested. If he had marshalled his material more carefully be fore he wrote. Mr Fenton would have been more assured of the hearing which seme of his case deserves