HART applauds Conciliator’s stance

Press, 30 January 1981, Page 2

HART applauds Conciliator’s stance

PA Auckland HART has welcomed the stand taken by the Race Relations Conciliator, Mr Hiwi Tauroa. against the planned Springbok tour this year but the anti-tour group is" disappointed that Mr Tauroa did not oppose the tour for moral reasons. HART’s national organiser/ Mr J. Minto, said yesterday; that moral reasons were the! key reasons. The majority of South Africans had called for a boycott for some time, he said. Referring to comments by Mr Tauroa that the concept! of.: “bridge-building” with South Africa 'needed reexamination, Mr Minto said; that this had been tried since 1919. j It was only the protests! and pressure for Maoris to: be included in All Black! teams touring South Africa; which had resulted in; this!: happening, said Mr Minto.! HART stood by. its policy of>.

ii boycotting and isolating : South Africa until apartheid! - was dismantled. i Meanwhile, the Romani I Catholic Church in New! [.Zealand has given HART! ■ $lOOO for “the general work: Lof education.” •[ An editorial in the: [Church’s newspaper, “Zea-| landia,” this week described■HAßT as the country’s lead■!ing anti-racist organisation. I The tour would force New Zealand Christians to make: up their minds on the issue of apartheid and sport, said the editorial. ■ “Mouthing principles without translating them into action is mere lip service.” the editorial said. “To this extent, Christians in this coun- : try who conscientiously opIpose the Springbok tour are bound to seek ways of aci lively showing their opposition.” I Mr Minto said the money ■would be used on HART’S ■ education programme.