Springbok tour

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 20

Springbok tour

Sir,—Being a New Zealand citizen and an avid rugby supporter, I thought that a few unbiased comments from a fellow Kiwi may be appreciated as far as multi-racial participation and the selection of South Africa’s top 30 players are concerned. In my opinion, integrated rugby has flourished in this country from what I have seen to date. I have been residing here for 18 months. Both African and Coloured players if go,od enough, are fully accepted at provincial and national level. They are also taking part in many secondary school and junior grades which is an encouraging sign for the future. At present level, if I were picking a full touring Springbok side, I must admit that all players chosen would be white South Africans on merit. This is the- one thing that most people overseas, including New Zealand cannot appreciate that oh present form, those, leading African and Coloured players (and there are many of them) simply would not make the national side on merit basis. At least now they are being given the chance' to develop their rugby where that would not have been said five or six years ago. — Yours, etc., ICHAEL CHURCH. Cape Town. ■ May 25, 1981. '

Sir,—May I offer my congratulations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Taiboys, for being so in touch with public opinion on the-Springbok tour issue. After Norman Jones, that frank M.P. from Invercargill, had condemned the anti-tour movement and labelled it communist-inspired and received tumultuous applause from National Party delegates at the Otago-South-land meeting held in Dunedin, Mr Taiboys claimed that Mr Jones had asked people to stop

thinking. It is worth' recording that the Minister received only a polite hand-clap in recogni. tion of his Ministerial status and not what he said. Aftei almost 26 years in a one-man business and dealing with a cross-section of the public, I conducted my own poll on the Springbok tour issue. Of the 50 customers questioned as they were served 40 were for the tour, seven were against but six of the seven answered no on the threat of disruption. Three were undecided. Political affiliations were also sought and the frankness was surprising. Eighteen opted for National, 16 Labour, eight Social Credit and eight were undeclared. These figures should be heartening for HART and Mr Taiboys. — Yours, etc., L. J. STEVENS. May 29, 1981.