Springbok tour

Press, 20 September 1980, Page 14

Springbok tour

Sir,—ln the “Eyewitness” programme of September 16, the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr Blazey, when asked for a response to the public opinion poll on the proposed Springbok tour, which showed a large swing against the tour, replied that he would be more interested in the findings of a poll in a few weeks. I would like _to ask the Rugby Union if this could be interpreted as meaning that, if future polls show that the opinion of the New Zealand public is overwhelmingly anti-tour, it will review the invitation? Or is the tour a fait accompli, regardless of the possible wishes of the rest of the country?—Yours, etc., M. R. PAULL. September 17, 1980.

Sir, — Jim Knox and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby have seen fit to jump on the anti-touf bandwaggon which they should leave well alone. For Jim Knox we know tiiat anything that goes against his “brother workers” will bring him in boots and all. But I am surprised about the reaction of Bishop Ashby. I though it was Christian to forgive. It seems from Bishop Ashby’s remarks that it is not. How can anyone criticise a country on how to run its racial problems, when this country has probably the worst type of racialism, the type that everyone knows exists, but no-one is prepared to admit. There is recialism of sorts all round the world —in America, Britain, the Middle East, even in Europe. We need all those countries for our economy, but poor old South Africa seems to get it in the neck every time, and I cannot see what is Christian about that.—Yours, etc.,

K. D. WILLIAMSON. September 16, 1980.

Sir, — The Gleneagles Agreement, under which we are forbidden to have sporting contacts with our white kinsmen in South Africa, was imposed upon us by the black majority of Commonwealth Heads of State. This same black majority, by their arrogance and insolence were instrumental in causing South Africa to leave the Commonwealth. There is no justification why the black Commonwealth (it is no longer British) can impose its will upon us except by our spineless acceptance of it. So I say, To hell with the Commonwealth and the Gleneagles Agreement. Bring on the Springboks —

Yours, etc., D. McMAHON.September 18, 1980.

Sir, — Would the “nevertheless full-blooded humans!’ of Lincoln College (D. A. Syman and D. S. A. McLean) explain how an “informal

survey . . . taken among about (sic) 220 students” on their own campus can give a fair and representative indication of “some very revealing attitudes felt among many New Zealanders”? Can such an informal survey indicate anything at all other than what or how Lincoln College students think (about the tour)? Do D. A. Symon and D. S. A. McLean believe their campus constitutes such a mixed lot that they can speak justly on behalf of New Zealand's “silent majority”? If so, surely by “silent majority” they are referring to several million white sheep wandering about, with the wool over their eyes, on that side of the barbed wire fence where the grass is always greener. —Yours, etc., TONY MANSON. September 19, 1980.