March organisers expect 10,000

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 6

March organisers expect 10,000

The Christchurch organisers of the. “mobilisation against the tour" march on Friday expect up to .10,000 people to take to the streets. “It should be the biggest march there has ever been in Christchurch,” said the chairman of Coalition Against the Tour (C.A.T.),’ Mrs Mary Baker, yesterday. The big job of organising the march was well under way, said Mrs Baker. On Saturday, vicars, ministers/ and' priests at many churches had urged their parishioners to join the “mobilisation.”

“It is wonderful to have the churches behind us. That should make a big difference,” said Mrs Baker.

She said students, some trade unions, teachers, and many other groups had guaranteed, their support for the march, to be held simultaneously with others in big and small centres, throughout the country.

If enough support is shown, the organisers hope the Government will act to stop the proposed Springbok tour. The mobilisation wilt start at four rallying points — Sydenham Park, Lancaster Park, Riccarton Mall, and Merivale Mall — about 7 p.m.

The marchers are expected to reach Cathedral Square about 8 p.m. From there, they will march west on Worcester Street to

Oxford Terrace, along Cashel Street, and back on Colombo Street to the Square, where they will listen to speakers. Mrs Baker said the organisers did not expect any violence or other problems. “We really hope that people will be able to express their feelings without any trouble,” she said.

The Commander of the Christchurch Police District (Deputy Assistant Commissioner G, E. Twentyman) said the police also did not expect “any great problems.” “But just in case there are altercations between factions we will be there in sufficient numbers to cope,” said Mr Twentyman.