Mr Lange reiterates anti-tour stance

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 21

Mr Lange reiterates anti-tour stance

PA Wellington The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Lange) has again taken issue with the Government’s refusal to stop the Springbok rugby tour. Several sports pressures being put on New Zealand made the tour a lasting impediment for this country's sportsmen and women, he said. These included threats of a decade of isolation for New Zealand athletes; a ! likely boycott of the Brisbane Commonwealth Games by black African nations and a likely barring of New Zealand from attendance at the Games in

face of this boycott; doubts about a proposed New Zealand cricket tour of the West Indies; and the unlikely success of Auckland's application to stage the 1990 Commonwealth Games. “These arguments should convince the Government that its present attitude is totally out of touch with the international community,” Mr Lange said. ■ ‘ ■ The Government was making .New Zealand an international “hot potato,” he said. “We will be an embarrassment to the. rest of. the Commonwealth, while at the same time risking domestic

violence and disharmony if the tour goes ahead." Mr Lange accused the Government of adopting a , “gutless attitude” towards' the tour issue, and said that the ■ solution was so. obvious any responsible Government would have made it by now. “The Government must govern and act." ' ’. - He urged that the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) or one of his Cabinet colleagues attend a meeting of the Rugby Union and make it clear that the proposed tour was no longer' acceptable tc the people of New Zealand.