'Onslaught’ on march planned

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 21

'Onslaught’ on march planned

PA Wellington HART will make a “thorough onslaught” of rural areas to raise support for the mobilisation on July' 3 against the 1981 Springbok tour, a national council meeting decided at Wellington at the week-end. The national chairman, Ms Pauline McKay, said the anti-apartheid group was not disappointed with the numbers of protesters but it wanted to examine the weaknesses of the May 1 marches. The Government was looking for ways to pressure the New Zealand Rugby Union to call the tour off, she said. HART aimed to show’ the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) he could stop the tour with the backing of the elec-

torat.e. It was confident more people would take to the streets in the July 3 mobilisation. HART also decided to appoint a South island organiser to join the national organiser and chairman in full-time work raising antitour support. Two speakers who will tour the country are Mr Donald Woods, who escaped from South Africa after being placed under house arrest, and a New Zealand Anglican priest, Canon John Osmers. Both men were banned in South Africa. HART plans to lobby all National members of Parliament over the Springbok issue and will ask those who oppose it to wear A ‘Stop the Tour’ badge on the day Parliament opens.