Rugby Union ‘acted legally’

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 3

Rugby Union ‘acted legally’

PA Wellington The Minister of Police (Mr Couch) said yesterday that whether the Rugby Football Union was wise in inviting a South African rugby team to visit New Zealand last year was a matter of opinion.

But “what is certain is that the union acted legally and that the police had a duty to uphold that legal right. Any New Zealander or organisation is entitled to that much, and to no more." Mr Couch's comment on the tour was made in a statement headed “Visit of South African Rugby Team. 1981.” The statement was tabled at the Rugby Union’s first council meeting of the year in Wellington. Mr Couch noted that his views were personal. “They are not necessarily shared by other members of the Government; and the Government’s view, as a Government, is widely known and its decision accepted by all members, including me." The Rugby Union's chair-

man (Mr C. A. Biazey) said after the meeting that Mr Couch was not talking about the tour in the sense of rugby football. “He’s talking about the rights of New Zealanders to go about their lawful business." Mr Biazey said that he thought the statement was well constructed. Mr Couch said the police did an “excellent" job of controlling disruption on a scale New Zealand had not seen before. “They have been criticised particularly by those who did their best to create disorder. "They came through all this magnificently. . . they kept their oath to uphold the law — which is what we pay them for." Mr Couch said the situation was inflamed by irresponsible reports by some elements of the news media. He said claims of “baton charges” in Wellington’s Molesworth Street had since been dismissed as “totally incorrect” by the New Zealand Press Council which must be accepted as an impartial body.