Opposition bid against ’Bok tour fails after vote in House

Press, 25 June 1981, Page 1

Opposition bid against ’Bok tour fails after vote in House

PA

Wellington

The Government last evening effectively voted out the Opposition bid to have the Parliament urge the Rugby Union not to proceed with the Springbok tour in the national interest.

Amid scenes of confusion with members of Parliament unsure at times of precisely what they were about to be asked to vote on. until the Speaker. Sir Richard Harrison. explained matters, the Government in a division quashed the move 48 votes to 36.

Social Credit members voted with the Government and the independent Labour member for Nelson, Mr M. F. Courtney, was not present. No member crossed the floor of the House. Miss 'Marilyn > Waring (Nat.. Waipa) was absent, reportedly in her electorate.

The Opposition move to have Parliament urge the union not to proceed with the tour was made through an amendment to the traditional Address-in-Reply motion responding to the" Speech from the Throne. It was put by Mr A. J. Faulkner (Lab., Roskill).

The full amendment was not, under Parliamentary procedures, put directly to the House, but instead a procedural motion was proposed effectively rejecting it.

Then the Government inserted its own amendment in place of Mr Faulkner’s. This was moved earlier in the debate by the Minister of Customs (Mr Templeton) and noted that the Government had sought to discourage the union and supported its policy on not refusing visas to the Springboks. This w’as passed , and then tacked on to a motion, of noconfidence in the Government moved early in the three week old debate by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling).. While members wrangled among themselves over procedures and the Leader of the House (Mr Thomson) sought to explain .voting procedures, Mr N. P. H. Jones (Nat., Invercargill) said: "What have we done to deserve this?" Opposition members shouted: "Let's get on with it." Sir Richard at one point told members that if they w’ere going to continue

"sniggering" they could leave the chamber.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) made an impassioned speech stating his "utter” opposition to the forthcoming Springbok tour.

In a speech which drew applause from several members of the Opposition and from all on the Government benches. Mr Taiboys called on all. his "fellow citizens to act as. New Zealanders” in opposing the tour. A long-time opponent of the South African visit, Mr Taiboys told the House that New Zealanders failed to see what it was that concerned black Africans. "The black African hates the system of apartheid intensely. He does not stop to understand what the game of rugby , has done in New Zealand.”'

"He will not tolerate the system of apartheid. Why should he?" Mr Taiboys said. He called on the Opposition to forget the politics and remember the issue that was being discussed, claiming that many members of the i Labour Party supported the National- Party's stand on visas.

' According to Mr Taiboys, black Africans did not understand the impact of the game of rugby in New Zealand and how it had bound Maoris and pakehas together. "It is a game which has been such a source of strength in this country. It has played a unique part in rubbing tw'o races together in New Zealand,” Mr Taiboys said.

Mr Taiboys said that unfortunately- people in New Zealand tended to feel threatened by such words as "blackmail,” and in those times “wrapped themselves up in their national spirit," telling other countries to “go to hell."

“Those who support the tour are trying to drive their motor vehicle up a one-way-street against the whole flow of world opinion. We are damn fools to drive a vehicle against this traffic. /

"I don't think that people should act because of threats. We would be so much stronger if we stopped and saw what we are asked to think about is the system of apartheid.” New Zealand would be seen by so many countries, not to oppose this system if the tour went ahead. Mr Taiboys asked New Zealand rugby players if the enjoyment they experienced could compensate for the disappointment of athletes who were denied competing because of possible boycotts.

A hushed chamber heard Mr Taiboys conclude that he was "utterly” opposed to the tour and he called on all New Zealanders to join with him.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Lange) said there was no principle built into New Zealand law of an inalienable right for a visiting sports team to have an entry permit. There was a clear right of discretion given the Minister of Immigration to refuse or approve an application for such a permit. Amid interjections from Government members .he asked: "Does the member of Parliament for Invercargill (Mr N. P. H. Jones) still support the tour?" Mr Jones: "Of course I do."

Mr Lange said that under the Gleneagles Agreement the Government committed itself to vigorously oppose apartheid.

"I believe there is clear evidence it is the intention of the Government to keep this issue on the boil until November. I see in the words of the member for Invercargill and the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Couch) a scheme conjured by the Government to keep the division within this country at a ferment so that New Zealand will have deflected from its eyes the failure of the Government in every aspect of its administration. "The.conduct of the Minister of Maori Affairs makes that possibility extraordinarily real,” Mr Lange said.