Opposition to tour

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 14

Opposition to tour

The National Council of Churches had not voted 19 to 14 in favour of supporting the proposed All Black tour to South Africa at its recent meeting in Christchurch, said the general secretary (Rev. A. H. MacLeod) yesterday.

Rev. MacLeod was replying to criticism from a member of the Canterbury Rugby Union (Mr John Mullins), reported in “The Press” this week. i The 19 to 14 vote had in fact resulted from an amenditnent which gave support to H.A.R.T., C.A.R.E., and other I organisations, he said. “The council voted virtually unanimously to oppose the tour.” “Mr Mullins accuses the N.C.C. of being un-Christian in boycotting South Africa. The council is not boycotting South Africa. It remains in regular contact with a wide variety of white and non-white groups in South Africa and is engaged in a continuing dialogue with the Dutch Reformed Church to which most Afrikaaners belong,” said Mr Angus. But the council did not believe that it was Christian to condone racism and par-; ticipate in injustice. “It believes it has a Chris-1 I tian duty to help the poor, and weak, and to expose, as .Jesus did, the powers which are opposed to God’s purpose for mankind and to work for non-violent change in South Africa.” he said. The Rev Mr Angus said

that the council’s decision r was one way open to Newl. Zealand to bring pressure' for change.