American group writes to Govt on Bok tour

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 10

American group writes to Govt on Bok tour

An American organisation, standing for “equality in sport and society,” has sent a letter of protest about the Springbok tour to the New Zealand Government.

The American Co-ordinat-ing Committee for Equality in Sport and Society (“Access”) wrote that it viewed the invitation by the New’ Zealand Rugby Union with such great alarm that it felt compelled to register its protest “in the strongest possible terms.”

It made its protest “although our coalition is primarily concerned with United States’ violations of United Nations’ and other international resolutions and boycotts against apartheid in sport,” and “although the United States does not, by any means, stand blameless on this issue.”

The coalition was aware, it said, of the tremendous propaganda value such a tour would have for the “racist and Nazi-like” Government and sports authorities in South Africa. It was also aware of the “undeservedness” of such a victory for them, especially after two recent visits to South Africa by a coalition member.

“We find the New Zealand Government's reluctance to act effectively against the

tour because of its wish to be ‘democratic’ particularly ironic, as this amounts to preference for the rights of New Zealanders to be racist rather than non-racist,” it continued. It was also a flagrant violation of both the spirit and the letter of the Gleneagles Agreement.

The. letter ended with a request that the Government ban the tour and deny visas to the South African team. It was signed by the committee’s chairman, Mr Rich Lapchick, and the secretary-gen-eral, Mr John Dommissa,

The Trade Aid movement, comprising 23 Third World shops throughout Nev; Zealand, has opposed the Springbok tour because it believes that support for the tour implies support for apartheid.

A policy statement from the group says that the apartheid laws ensure that the majority of South Africans live in worse conditions than many of the Third World people with whom Trade Aid deals. However, because South Africa was classified as a “rich, developed” nation, Trade Aid could not deal with such powerless South Africans.

The Press Association reports that Auckland’s Mayor, Mr Colin Kay, wants the Springbok tour stopped, and

he appears to have most of the City Council behind him. The council is expected to discuss the tour issue this evening. On the agenda is a letter from a resident asking the council not to follow other councils and deny the tourists facilities.

The Mayor will recommend: “That the Auckland City Council expresses to the New Zealand Government its firm opposition to the Springbok tour.” A survey of councillors yesterday revealed that a majority would vote for the recommendation. The voting was 12 for, including the Mayor's vote, and six against.

The Gisborne City Council is opposed to the tour. Use of city reserves will not be withdrawn, but there will be no civic welcome. The first game of the tour will be played at Gisborne. The council decision is the outcome of a long debate on Tuesday evening and that considered three notices of motion brought by one councillor.

In Palmerston North two marches — one opposing the Springbok tour, the other supporting it — will be held at the same time tomorrow evening. The two marches, while starting at the same time, are not expected to cross paths.