Rugby men ‘not dissuaded by threats’

Press, 13 March 1982, Page 3

Rugby men ‘not dissuaded by threats’

PA Wellington Threats would not dissuade the New Zealand Rugby Union from talking to people about problems, said the union’s chairman, Mr C. A. Blazey, yesterday. He was commenting on the controversy surrounding the visit to South Africa by five of his union councillors. “It' seems that we have now reached the extraordinary situation where we should not even talk to people about problems,” said Mr Blazey. “We cannot accept such a contention, threats or no threats.” Mr Blazey, who is in London. released a statement through the union’s Wellington office. . ’ . Rugby Union councillors believed to be leaving for South Africa yesterday or today were “very foolish,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). Their visit would “only do damage ... only exacerbate the situation,” he said. “It certainly won’t achieve anything.” But they were “free agents — we cannot stop people going to South Africa,” Mr Muldoon said. . Five councillors — Messrs Russell Thomas, Ray Harper, Pat Gill, Peter Wild, and Pat Beaumont — are following Mr Blazey overseas for the visit. They were expected to fly from Auckland to Johannesburg yesterday or today. Some of the councillors have criticised the Government for approaching them in only the last few days to ask them to reconsider their visit. Mr Muldoon said he could not answer a question about such criticism. “This only came to my

attention within comparatively recent days,” he said. Asked if he thought Australian concern about the visits was merited in light of threats to the. Commonwealth Games, Mr Muldoon said, “I cannot comment on that because we are getting mixed . reports from Africa.” The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Richard Harrison, had returned from a visit to Africa and said those countries would attend the Games, Mr Muldoon said. “We do know in fact that several African nations have indicated to the Commonwealth Games organisation that they intend to be there. Then you get some Sam Ramsamy sort of fellow working from London saying they are not. Who do you believe? “I frankly would put more confidence in what Dick Harrison has said because he has been to these countries and talked to the Governments. “There is a strong element of propaganda in what these Sam Ramsamys and people like that say. They are going to stir all the way through up to the very last day.” Mr Muldoon said he was confident there would,be a full attendance at Brisbane, “and certainly I hope there will be.” Mr Muldoon also said he thought the Rugby Union councillors’ visit “would not do as much damage as the visit by the British cricketers and the Cardiff football club. “Those are direct sports contacts, and they are going to stir the pot again, unquestionably.” he said.