Mr Rowling’s challenge on rugby tour

Press, 11 July 1980, Page 2

Mr Rowling’s challenge on rugby tour

PA Wellington' The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) yesterday challenged the Government to confirm that i* would make the same strenuous efforts to stop a Springbok tour i :xt year as were taken against participation in the .Olympic Games at Moscow.

Mr P ling ...Id his challenge stemmed from a letter he had received from the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, (Sir Shridath Ramphal) confirming that ’ the Gleneagles Agreement, and the obligation: of signatory nation*, must- : remain in force on sports contacts with South Africa.

Mr Rowling said he had sought Sir Shridath’s personal view ,on the situation in South, Africa : in relation to th? original Gleneagles Agreement, signed in 1977.

In his reply, Sir Shridath pointed out that under the Gleneagles Agreement, Commonwealth countries agree that as long as apartheid is retained by the South African authorities as the basis of the law and way of life in South Africa, any adjustments in sports codes can, at best, be considered cosmetic. >.

The apartheid laws of South Africa did remain in force, both on the Statute Book and in reality, he said. Mr Rowling said Sir Shridath’s letter absolutely confirmed the position of the Labour Party, that the situat’ in South Africa had not changed to any significant degree, and that the New Zealand Government was bound, ..under the Gleneagles Agreement, to take all possible steps to prevent further sports contacts.