Opposition bill to test legality

Press, 12 September 1980, Page 1

Opposition bill to test legality

PA . . Wellington Legislation designed to determine the legality of the proposed Springbok tour of New Zealand next year will • be put to Parliament today by. Labour’s shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr A. JFaulkner. 7 The Gleneagles Agreement Bill seeks to make the agreement part of New Zealand law and therefore give the. High Court jurisdiction to determine whether the government or any person has complied with it. • Mr Faulkner said he believed there was a need to put the Gleneagles Agreement into a legal framework in New Zealand. “If we can get determination of matters to which

i the Government itself has committed the country, determination in a judicial, courtroom : atmosphere rather than in demonstrations and high propaganda programmes, it is surely beneficial,” Mr Faulkner told the NZPA. Translating it into law would achieve that end, he said. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) made another plea in Parliament yesterday for the Rugby Union to face up to its responsibility under the Gleneagles Agreement when deciding whether to invite the South African rugby team to tour next year. But he again made it clear that the Government would not step in to stop the tour. New Zealand citizens

were free to make their own decisions on matters which affected the country, Mr Taiboys said, during a debate on the Foreign Affairs estimates. Mr Taiboys made it clear, however, that the Government expects the Rugby Union not to invite the Springboks. ' The Wellington Antiapartheid Council will stage a protest march through Wellington streets this evening to protest about the proposed Springbok tour. It has been organised to coincide with the Rugby Union’s council meeting at Auckland today. Ant i-Springbok tour protesters plan to picket the meeting at Auckland. Bishops discuss economy, Springbok tour, Page 2