Springbok tour

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 20

Springbok tour

Sir,—As one of the signatories in the advertisement in "The Press” on Friday expressing opposition to the proposed Springbok tour, I am still concerned over the effect of a cancellation on the finances of the rugby union. If our rugby administrators are to be encouraged to look beyond the sport of rugby at New Zealand’s total opposition to the racialist system of apartheid, there needs to be a public offer of financial assistance to the rugby union. The setting up of a trust fund by objectors and others to be paid to the rugby union if the rugby union voluntarily and definitely cancels the tour, might be worth consideration with the money to be given instead, say to Corso, if the tour still goes ahead. If 20,000 or more people would give an average of $l2 to a trust fund for the direct benefit of the rugby union, if the tour is cancelled for at least two years, it would also prove to the Government that a lot of New Zealanders are prepared to put their money where their mouths are.—Yours, etc., BILL RICE. April 26, 1981. Sir,—lnternational sport has unfortunately degenerated into a financial and political charade. Astute Communist propaganda, playing on the sensitivities of coloured nations, has focused world condemnation on South Africa, thus diverting attention away from the widespread starvation, oppression and mass murder which are prevalent closer to home. Brainwashed into fiddling with football while the world burns, let us be consistent: Ban the Springbok tour, and ban so-called sporting contacts with all countries which allow ethnic discrimination in any form, whether practised with a lawful nod or a sly wink. New Zealand would then be left to compete against its own smug self and the bonecrushing, elbow-bending sportsmen could ensure a winsome time for all. Furthermore, local hot-eyed aspiring martyrs would have to pause in biting the bark off the nearest trees until the next crafty decoy trundles out of the back door of the Kremlin.—Yours, etc., K. J. PHILLIPS. April 26, 1981.

Sir,—With regard to the proposed Springbok tour, I have never visited South Africa, but my husband's parents came from there to New Zealand and I have heard much of the plight of the blacks there. However, my feeling is that should the tour go ahead the N.Z.R.U. should have to use any profit (and that is one of the main reasons for the tour) to help pay for policing the tour and not leave it to the already over-burdened taxpayer to finance.—Yours, etc., JOYCE HART. April 27, 1981.

Sir,—While I appreciate the churches’ concern over apartheid and the Springbok tour, I rather feel that it is all too easy to jump on a popular bandwaggon and sidestep issues which I feel should be of more concern to church heirarchy. Church unity for one. Jesus said: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” I believe Jesus meant His church to be one undivided Body, but sadly this is far from the case and certainly neither is it righteous. When Christians cannot get together and agree

about communion with each j other, and solve basic Christian ; problems, how can we expect

to solve world problem’s?— Yours, etc., BARBARA J. MILLS. April 28, 1981. Sir,—Mr Brian Lochore is quoted in your paper (April 27) as saying the South African rugby team would be “selected on a non-racial basis.” The average black wage is around 10 per cent of the white wage: Hunger, malnutrition, disease and an appallingly high infant mortality rate is the lot of the black man in this wealthy country. Under these handicaps would Mr Lochore still say the Springboks will be selected on a non-racial basis? Rugby is only a game. Apartheid is for real.—Yours, etc., GRAEME R. YARDLEY. April 27, 1981. Sir,—A news item last week over the N.Z.B.C. network informed listeners that a World XV to play Wales in the big final event of its rugby union centenary celebrations would include players from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The report of the match in your issue this morning has no mention of any disturbance by protesters and one can assume there were no protests. Surely if Wales can play rugby against some South African players without any trouble we can do the same.—Yours, etc., H. BIRT. April 27, 1981.