Stopping Springboks up to Rugby Union — Govt

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 2

Stopping Springboks up to Rugby Union — Govt

PA Wellington The Government has told the Supreme Council for Sport ’in Africa that the responsibility for stopping the Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand lies with the New Zealand Rugby Union. The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) revealed this yesterday when releasing correspondence to the Rugby Union and the African council’s secretary-

general, Mr Amadou Lamine. In his latest letter to the Rugby Union, Mr Taiboys said the African Council had appealed to the New Zealand Government to stop the tour. Mr Taiboys said in the letter addressed to the Rugby Union’s chairman, Mr C. A. Blazey: “I have said that we will not (stop the tour) and that we, and all New Zealnders, ; 4 will have to accept the ' consequences of your deci- ■ sion, both here at home and abroad., ■ “I can do no more, and no . less, than to ask that the

(Rugby Union) council weigh the secretary-general’s appeal with great care and deliberation.” Replying to the African council’s appeal for the Government to stop the tour, Mr Taiboys said: “The responsibility for the divisions the issue is causing among New Zealanders and the damage being done to New Zealand’s standing abroad, lies at the door of the New Zealand Rugby Union. It has not exercised wisely the freedom with which it has been entrusted by our democratic traditions.” He told the African Council that he would pass on its appeal to the Rugby Union, asking that the union give it “the most serious consideration.” Mr Taiboys wrote to the Rugby Union on May 19. The Supreme Council for Sport in Africa told Mr Talboys it was greatly disturbed that in spite of numerous

protests and appeals from several quarters to cancel the proposed tour, the Rugby Union was still adamant. “In view of this negative attitude which we are aware is bound to have grave consequences on your Government’s relations with all the member States of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, I am forced to appeal to your Government to stop the proposed tour,” Mr Amadou wrote on Abril 27. “Should the tour go through then the logical conclusion we would arrive at is that your Government is insensitive to world opinion and that it tacitly approves the sports policies instituted by the racist Pretoria regime. We will then not forget to take note.”’ “On behalf of the 50 member States’ of the Supreme Council for Sport in ’ Africa, I earnestly appeal to your Government to intervene energetically that the

tour be cancelled. It is the right thing to do.” Mr Taiboys replied on May 15, saying the New Zealand Government’s opposition to the proposed tour had been repeatedly made clear to the Rugby Union ever since the tour was first considered.

Mr Blazey said yesterday that he felt he should not comment on the letter from Mr Taiboys until the Rugby Union’s council had considered it at its meeting in Wellington tomorrow. “All we have had is a copy of the letter the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa wrote Mr Taiboys and a copy of his reply,” said Mr Blazey.

“I don’t believe we should say anything about it until the (Rugby Union) council has had a chance to look at it.”

Mr Taiboys yesterday disputed assertions made this month by Papua . New Guinea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mr Noel Levi) on the Springbok tour.