Govt’s stand on tour defended

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 2

Govt’s stand on tour defended

NZPA correspondent London The >. juty Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) has defended the New Zealand Government agaii the accusation by the Commonwealth Secretariat of making only a “ritual bow” in its opposition to the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. . In an hour-long meeting .with the Commonwealth Secretary-General (Sir Chridath Ramphal) Mr Taiboys told him firmly that he hoped and believed the Rugby Union would reconsider its invitation and that the tour would not take place. “I told him that the ‘ritual bow’ . statement had made the Government’s task more difficult,” Mr Taiboys said after the meeting. “However, we have just got to let the debate continue.” Sir Shridath’s letter to the Rugby Union caused considerable indignance among Government members of Parliament, and is believed to have been. .rebuffed in strong terms 5 in a letter written by Mr Taiboys in response to the “ritual bow” allegation. /, '• '/

Mr Taiboys told NZPA that he intended to release the rest < f that letter on his return to N;w “ealand lat°r this week, but he d' ined to do so in London, saying it world be “improper” tj release it while outside New Zealand.

The New Zealand Squash Association’s refusal to invite a South African, Rory Watson, to the recent championships in Auckland and the decision of Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe not to go ahead with a p’ med important match in South Africa were judged significant, Mr T .'boys said. The “friendly, as always” hour-long meeting took place in Mr Taiboys’ hotel suite after the meeting between the two planned for Sunday had been cancelled to enable Mr Taiboys to return to New Zeal nd because of the National Party leadership crisis. They also discussed developments in Africa, including the situation in Uganda and the coming elections there, and the north-south dialogue and the report of the Brandt Commission of which Sir Shridath vyas a member.