Hint of new move by Mr Muldoon on ’Bok tour

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 1

Hint of new move by Mr Muldoon on ’Bok tour

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, has “some further initiative” in mind on the Springbok tour issue, said the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Maclntyre, yesterday.

Mr Maclntyre told reporters after a Cabinet meeting that something would flow from the discussion Mr Muldoon had on Friday with the Commonwealth Secre-tary-General, Sir Shridath Ramphal. Mr Maclntyre also said he was certain Mr Muldoon (who will return from overseas this week) would release the details of some of the conversation that had taken place with Sir Shridath. “I would be expecting him to in due course, let the public of New Zealand know what reaction he has taken as a result of his talk." Mr Maclntrye was asked whether he already knew Mr Muldoon's : action to the meeting. He said he. had seen a cable in which Mr Muldoon reported his interview with Sir Shridath and he understood Mr Muldoon would be taking some further initiative as a result of that talk. / “Obviously he is going to do something. He is not going to leave it as a conversation full stop.”' Mr Maclntyre said he would not be surprised if Mr Muldoon thought tof some other initiative. ’ Asked what sort of initiative. he replied: "You tell me what Mr Muldoon thinks and you're a better man than I am.”

Mr Muldoon had indicated certain lines that could be followed but “as far as I know he hasn’t taken them yet.”

He was asked to comment, without disclosing any initiatives planned by Mr Muldoon, on whether it would be directed at stopping the tour or appeasing the Commonwealth.

"It will be a thoroughly Muldoon reaction,” replied Mr Maclntyre.

The Cabinet had not done an autopsy, yesterday on tlje

outcome of Parliament's debate oh Friday, he told a questioner. Asked what he thought could happen between now and when the tour started. Mr Maclntyre said: “We might have an earthquake.” A group of visiting Australian newsmen gave Mr MacIntyre a grilling yesterday on the Springbok tour issue. The journalists, in Wellington for the A.N.Z.U.S. talks, attended the usual post-Cabi-net press conference and asked Mr Maclntyre what he thought would happen between now and when the Springboks arrived next month.

One reporter reminded Mr Maclntyre of the comment on Sunday evening b.v the Australian Foreign Minister (Mr Tony Street) that it was extraordinary that New Zealand would risk diplomatic isolation over the tour.

Mr Maclntrye said: "We try and be. a free country over here. We try and allow people to say what they want and what they think even when they’re the guests of the Government. So Mr Street can say what he wants to.”

Mr Muldoon' has had no correspondence with the

New Zealand Ruby Union over next month's Springbok tour. That task has been undertaken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) who last wrote to the union on May 19 this year. Mr Maclntyre said. Replying to a question on today's Parliamentary order paper, he said Mr Muldoon's opposition to the tour had been sthted publicly and the union was aware of it. ■ The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) had asked Mr Maclntyre to outline the Prime Minister's objections to the tour and the content of any correspondence he had had with the union.

On Friday, a Parliamentary resolution asking the union to reconsider its invitation to the Springboks was conveyed to the union chairman. Mr Ces Blazey, by the Speaker. Sir Richard Harrison. Mr Blazey said later he did not believe the resolution would change anything, but a copy would be circulated to union members and it would be tabled at the union's next meeting, on July 10.