Springbok tour

Press, 27 March 1981, Page 10

Springbok tour

Sir,—l am a Saint — a Supporter of All International Tours, regardless of the race, colour, creed or political per-, suasions of those involved. As such I am bound to support the proposed Springbok tour. Therefore, I would like to know how I can apply for the honour | of being added to the United * Nations black list with other

New Zealand citizens. If put on the black list, do I also become an honorary black? After all, I think we should humour the pathetically childish game Mr Sam Ramsamy and S.A.N.R.O.C. are playing.— Yours, etc., G. M. EDMONDS. March 25, 1981.

Sir,—What a lot of hypocritical nonsense is written by your correspondents on this subject. Here we have just welcomed and treated as heroes the Indian cricket team whose country’s caste laws, make South African apartheid look like a children’s picnic. I have witnessed cows strolling through grocery shops in Delhi eating what they wished from bags of corn, rice, etc. while outside Untouchables lie dying of starvation in the gutters — in the gutters because they are not allowed on the pavements. All this is acceptable as it hides under the very doubtful cloak of religion. South Africa is the last bastion against the enormous pressure Ofthe Communist bloc in that vast continent, and we have seen what has become of the other African countries that have been “liberated.” HiStbry atone will prove the folly of the West’s isolationist policies towards that great country.—Yours, etc.,

A. D. F. NEILL. March 25, 1981.

Sir,—Given that inter- I national relations, as evidenced by recent news reports, have reached the stage of advanced sabre-rattling- again, the New i Zealand Rugby Union has a | golden opportunity to lessen | world tension by cancelling the & proposed South African four £ without further ado, and invit- ® ing an unarmed Russian S team.—Yours, etc., g T. N. D. ANDERSON. * March 23, 1981. %

Sir,—ln reply to Frank Freeman (March 25), I have to hand a copy of my recent letter concerning the reluctant apology. The letter makes it quite clear that the subject was Soweto, and the two diffetent .views, I would not expect Mr Freeman to change his over-all outlook so easily. The wording was carefully chosen because of his fairly predictable answers. I referred to “reluctant apology”- because- I thought that was the kindest term for it. I have no need to distort, indeed, “the truth will out”; and the latter part of his letter indicates that while recognising time is running out for the present South African administration. Mr Freeman still clutches at straws. It is noticeable that he still has not answered my comments on his definition Of the "word “apar- ; which is in cquflictjvith

that of the Concise Oxford dictionary.—Youts, etc., KENNETH EBER MARTIN. March 25, 1981.

Sir,—l quote a few excerpts from a report (“The Press,” March 24) of remarks by a visiting South African, Commander W. H. Barnard. (1) “I have come here as a cattle • breeder to learn from other people'and to share ideas so that we caii produce more food for a hungry (?) world.” (2) “... Everybody in South Africa was looking forward to” (the proposed Springbok tour). (3) “I am genuinely 'a farmer and I do not think that farmers : can be brought into politics.” (4) In direct-contrast to point 3, he said he will stand for’ the new Republic Party in Bloemfontein North in the South African General Election. (5) “Apartheid, as people used to hear of it, is now a thing of the past. It was an unworkable system and nobody tried to apply it any more.” Who does commander Barnard think he , is kidding?—Yours, etc., k J. P. STUART. March 25, 1981.