H.A.R.T.head to travel

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 6

H.A.R.T.head to travel

Overseas help will be; sought by the Halt All Racist Tours movement to close the South African consulate in New Zealand. The chairman of H.A.R.T. (Mr Trevor Richards) said that this was one aim of a two-month overseas tour he would make early next year “We want to investigate campaigns being undertaken at present to counter the South African world-wide.' propaganda offensive.” he;, said. “In particular, we are; interested in seeking assist- 1 ance for campaigns being waged in New Zealand to end i service club contacts with; South Africa, and to close; the South African consulate.”): Other motives for the trip l were to examine the re. actions of various nations to the Maputo declaration, and . particularly legislation', against the recruitment of , mercenaries for southern;, Africa. H.A.R.T. was keen to dis-L cusa the “southern Africa J liberation struggle” with,

(representatives of black nationalist groups. However, the central purpose of the trip was to review the state of the campaign against apartheid sport, said Mr Richards. A concentrated effort would be made to strengthen the effectiveness of the campaign. The tour is being financed by anti-apartheid supporters; in New Zealand. Mr Richards said the res- ; ponse overseas to his trip 'was “clear and unmistakable (evidence of the fact that H.A.R.T.’s credibility has I never been higher.” ■ Among the countries Mr; [ Richards will visit are; I Jamaica, the United States,] 'Canada. Britain. France. Ger-’ .'many, Nigeria. Ethiopia, Tan-; zania. India, and Australia. ) He will meet anti-apartheidj groups, sports leaders. diplo- : mats, politicians, and public servants, as well as representatives of the United (Nations, the Organisation of ’African Unity, and the ,Supreme Council for Sport in; Africa.