Springbok tour

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 16

Springbok tour

Sir, — Referring to Steven Threadgill’s letter (October 2), I would like to state that, as a non-demon-strating, quiet, middle-aged, non-corresponding person, 1 am totally opposed to the Springbok tour. I guess there are thousands of people like me who do care about the tour taking place, but do not make a noise about it. For New Zealand to entertain the Springboks at this time is as self-cen-tred as for someone to give a tea party when his neighbour’s house is burning down. —Yours, etc., MARIANNE THORPE. October 3, 1980. Sir, — If New Zealand was to cut ties with every country which did not treat everyone in that country, as New Zealand, in her great wisdom, thinks they should be treated, how many countries would be left to associate with? South Africa seems to be the big bad wolf at the moment, but how about a few more for the list, such as: imprisonment of political dissidents and persecution of Christians in Russia; persecution and killing of Bahais in Iraq and Iran; terrible poverty and hunger in India, while healthy-looking cows wander through the streets and many people have great wealth; psychological torture and physical harassment of political dissidents' in Malaysia. Perhaps we should put our own house in order first. Large-scale oppression springs from small beginnings. Is the writing on the wall already in New Zealand? —- Yours, etc., RITA FREESTONE, Nelson. October 3, 1980.

Sir, — W. B. Mortlock’s comparison with Ireland (October 3) is misleading. The basic struggle in the Springbok issue is not between New Zealand and South Africa but between apardieid imposers and apartheid opposers within South Africa. In rugby, these are respectively represented by the South African Rugby Board, 100 per cent white

but with two African and Coloured subsidiaries; and the South African Rugby Union, encompassing 80 - 90 per cent of black players. S.A.R.U.’s stand is that it will not be a part of any international rugby until the sport is free of apartheid and, in South Africa, is controlled by a single non-racial body. International sporting contact, it finds, strengthens the apartheid faction; isolation weakens it. For daring to take this stand it is opposed by the South African Government, S.A.R.B. the New Zealand Rugby Union, and tour supporters here. We can help the South African groups come together by refusing this tour. — Yours, etc.,

A. J. CAMPBELL. October 3, 1980.

Sir, — In reply to W. B. Mortlock (October 3), I agree that Bishop Ashby should stay out of politics, do his preaching on Sundays, look after his parishes and leave football and tours to the Rugby Football Union. Why punish schoolboys who enjoy the game by someone who wants to enforce his Socialist ideas. I hope the boys stand up for what is right and, support the tour and their —Yours, etc., J. SMITH. October 3, 1980.