N.Z. 'forgiven’ by Africans

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 1

N.Z. 'forgiven’ by Africans

PA . Napier African countries have forgiven New Zealand for last year’s Springbok rugby tour — but they don’t want it to happen again. This is the message conveyed to the Speaker of New Zealand's Parliament, Sir Richard Harrison, during a recent visit to Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Lusaka, Zambia, and Tanzania. Sir. Richard has just returned from a month’s tour visiting countries in his capacity as chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary' Association. He said the common view of the countries he visited in regard to the Springbok tour of New Zealand last season was: “We are sorry New Zealand has been involved in playing rugby with South Africa but that event is of the past and we are happy to start afresh.”

Sir Richard said there was actually a resolution passed to this effect in the Nigerian Parliament when several speakers spoke warmly about New Zealand at a special welcome he and Lady Harrison received in the assembly.. “The Africans see the South African tour as an event of the past,” he said. “However, the criticism of New Zealand was meant. They hate apartheid and the system of racial discrimina'.tiori. “They are not, however, in a position to put sanctions on South Africa because they are: dependent on it for trade,”. Sir Richard said. “The only way they can express their abhorrence of South' Africa’s policies is through sport, because sport is very important to South Africans.”