‘No pressure’ on ’Bok tour

Press, 11 June 1980, Page 1

‘No pressure’ on ’Bok tour

PA WellingtonThe Government would not “pressure” the New Zealand Rugby Union in order to stop the planned Springbok tour next year, said the Minister for Recreation and Sport (Mr Highet) yesterday. However, it would bring to the attention of the union and of all sports bodies the Gleneagles Argeemeht which noted that sports contact with South Africa was tantamount to condoning its policy of apartheid, he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) sent a letter to the union in April, setting out the Government’s stand and arguing against issuing the Springbok side with an invitation to play here. Yesterday Mr Highet told NZPA he thought that that was as far as the matter would be taken. The issue of the planned tour is scheduled to be discussed at the next Rugby Union meeting in Auckland on July 4. , Mr Highet said the:Gov--

eminent would not .lobby individual members of the .union’s executive. Mr Taiboys had written a “strong letter” to the union. “I think that that is as far as it will go,”'Mr Highet said. Should the tour eventuate, it is unlikely that All Blacks who are State servants will have any problem obtaining leave. The Minister of State Services, (Mr Thomson) said he doubted that the State Services Commission would allow players the traditional privilege of

special leave to take part in competition against South Africans. But he said he doubted they could be prevented taking annual leave.

Even if some players had used up all the annual leave owing, them, as State servants they were entitled to take holidays up to a year in advance; “In a matter of right such as this there is no way, as far as I know, that the State Services Commission can interfere in that,” Mr Thomson said.