Tour poll shows giant swing

Press, 12 October 1976, Page 6

Tour poll shows giant swing

In a spectacular somersault of public opinion, an overwhelming majority of New Zealanders say they no Jonger support All Black rugby tours of South Africa on the same basis as the 1976 visit, according to a survey by the National Research Bureau for the “New Zealand Herald."

The change has oc-i curred since May—the) month before A. R. Les-I lie’s team set out fori South Africa. Opposition) to the tour was strong-] est in Christchurch.

Nor do a majority of people any longer want the Springboks to come to New Zealand on the same basis as in the past. In the poll last month, in perhaps the most dramatic shift of any of the polls conducted by the N.R.B. for the "Herald.” people were two to one against further tours of South Africa.

Four months before. New Zealander* supported the 1976 tour almost three to one.

In August. "The Press” did its own survey of Christchurch rugby players. This telephone poll showed that three of our four players supported the tour, but almost a* many would not approve of a tour of New Zealand by a Springbok side selected from whites only. The Press" poll surveyed 10.45 per cent of adult rugby piayers in Christchurch.

The results from the “Herald" survey show that on the question of welcoming the Springboks to New Zealand, the reversal of opinion was also spectacular. In a poll four years ago. supporters outnumbered opponents by more than three to one.

Last month 56 per cent of jthose polled were against visits by the Springboks. The ‘Herald” survey was nation-wide — the opinions of 2200 people aged 15 and over. Thev were selected by random probability methods Polling was done between September 11 and September 18. during the last week of the All Black tour. The tourists had been beaten in the third test on September 4 (they lost the rubber on September 18) and. at the time, racial violence in South Africa was occurring day after day. The first question put to voters in September was: “Do you think the All Blacks should again tour South Africa on the same basis as this year's tout?" In May, the Question was: “Do you want the All Blacks to tour South Africa this vear?

Strong opposition was expressed in every age group, right through New Zealand. It was stronger among wotnen (65 per cent) than men (60 per cent), strongest in Christchurch City (70 per! cent), and weakest in Well-i mgton City (56 per cent). ; In Auckland City, 63 per cent opposed a future tourj of South Africa and in Auck-'

land provincial areas, 62 per cent. Opposition in various age groups was: —

Before the 1973 tour by South Africa was cancelled, voters were asked in September. 1971, and July. 1972: "Should the 1973 Springbok rugby team come to New Zealand?” Last month, the question was: "Do you think the Springboks should again tour New Zealand on the same basis as previous tours? Comparing the answers:—

Men and women were equally opposed to further Springbok tours (56 per cent). Opposition was strongest in Dunedin City (66 per cent) and among 35 to 44 year olds (65 per cent). It was weakest in Dunedin provincial areas (49 per cent) and among 15 to 24 year olds (51 per cent). The survey was taken beifore South Africa announced a relaxation of racial barriers in sport. Copyright 1976 — “New Zealand Herald.”

The answers were: Sept. May % °o Yes 31 61 No 62 22 Don’t know 7 17

Age group % 15-24 61 25-34 58 35-44 68 45-54 62 55 and over 64

Sept. Julv Sept. 76 79 71 To (K Yes 35 70 74 No 56 21 16 Don’t know 9 9 10