Springbok tour

Press, 27 July 1981, Page 16

Springbok tour

Sir,—ln the 90 minutes it took the Springboks and Poverty Bay to prove their individual rights to freedom, 18 black South African children under the age of 12 months died of diseases associated with malnutrition. And the police threaten “tougher action” against demonstrators. Poverty and peace?—Yours, etc.,

GRAEME YARDLEY. July 23, 1981.

Sir,—You report this morning that, thousands of people marched in protests, hundreds confronted the police head-on, and scores were arrested. Yet the only “offensive weapons” were eggs — not even hardboiled — and only five or six people were injured. I suppose if all those demonstrators had been going about their normal affairs, as many would have been injured in road accidents. That was a day of shame to be proud of.—Yours, etc. DIANA GREGSON. July 23, 1981.

Sir,—Today’s leader implies that the rugby tour is a game for anti-tour protesters. Not so. They oppose apartheid, and will continue to. The tour makes their job harder by boosting white South Africa. It does not remove their job. There was no ambiguity in Gleneagles. New Zealand is not a military dictatorship although police are now taking control, along with the rugby union. A New Zealand aeroplane is not allowed to land, but police facilitate landing the Springboks, waiving normal disembarking procedures, V.I.P. customs, or none, at “Gisborne international airport” in secret? New Zealand’s words not its race record, is challenged. It agreed against “significant” sporting exchanges with South Africa, then facilitated the most significant exchange, giving special landing facilities and a s2’/a million escort used against New Zealanders. International comparisons of “discourage” are not necessary. Any New Zealand sportsman dissuaded from the Olympics could testify to the Government’s ability to “discourage” when it wished to. — Yours, etc., . B. ROBERTS. July 23, 1981.