THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976 Clearer N.Z. policy on sports tours

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 18

THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976 Clearer N.Z. policy on sports tours

Sir Keith Holyoake struck the right note on South African apartheid when he returned from the United Nations on Saturday The fundamental attitude of the Government towards apartheid has not changed, but it appears to repeat, often and firmly, that New Zealand and its Government are opposed to South Africa’s policy.

What has changed in recent weeks Is the Government’s readiness to persuade sportsmen of the undesirable consequences of sports contacts with South Africa. Ordinarily, sports tours have nothing to do with Governments in this country. To Governments in other parts of the world they may be very significant; hence the New Zealand Government cannot ignore the international significance of sports contacts with South Africa, and the least it can do is to make known its disapproval of any sports contact with South Africa Other countries may be willing and able to stop their citizens from travelling abroad or engaging in sport. That was evident at the Olympic Games in Montreal when many athletes who arrived there, apparently without any objection to competing against New

Zealanders, were forbidden to take part in the Games. It is hardly conceivable that a New Zealand Government could prevent a New Zealand team from travelling or playing abroad except by persuasive argument.

If the question were solely one for sports bodies, New Zealand could confine its efforts to explain its views to an approach to sports administrators. Obviously this is not sufficient; hence the visit by Sir Keith Holyoake to New York and the United Nations. What now remains to be seen is a demonstration of the Government’s policy in action. Perhaps no occasion will arise; in that event it may be assumed that the New Zealand attitude prevails in sports councils. But if a proposal for a sporting engagement with South Africans arises, the Government will have to make it clear that it has put its views to the organisers. If they persist, the Government must very clearly dissociate itself from the tour. A doubt must remain about whether this will satisfy some opponents of apartheid, but the Government can hardly go further if New Zealanders want to tour abroad.