Springbok tour

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 14

Springbok tour

[A letter under this heading from H. E. Crabb, printed on Wednesday, quoted Mrs Elizabeth Sutherland, of S.P.I.R. as saying that “all who marched against the tour were veteran protesters, and all who will march for the tour have never marched before.” This was a misquotation. Mrs Sutherland was quoted in "The Press” on Monday as saying: “The people who went on Friday’s march were mainly protesters who have turned out many times before. The people who would turn out for our march would never have marched before.” Nor did “The Press” report quote her as using the term “radical protesters.”]

Sir, — Ultimately, every New Zealander, whatever his position on the tour, will be adversely affected by it. Mr Taiboys has. explained all too clearly — brilliantly, in fact — its detrimental effects on New Zealand’s international reputation and trading prospects. Since our livelihoods are at stake why have the farmers and manufacturers and others involved in our exporting industries remained silent on the issue? It cannot be, surely, that such people actually regard the Springbok rugby tour as more

important than New Zealand’s economic and social wellbeing? — Yours, etc., J. NGARIMU. May 5, 1981.