Govt harmed by visit to S.A., says Minister

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 3

Govt harmed by visit to S.A., says Minister

PA Wellington The trip by three National members of Parliament to South Africa would harm the Government's efforts to discourage sports people from going there, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Cooper, yesterday. Mr Cooper spoke to two of the members. Invercargill's Mr N. H. P. Jones and Gisborne’s Mr R. L. Bell, yesterday morning in a bid to dissuade them from going, but told journalists it was clear that they would still accept the South African Government-paid fact-finding trip.

“I have told them that the trip will make it more difficult for the Government when it is attempting to discourage sports people." he said. The third member of Parliament. Mr T. de V. Hunt (Pakuranga). was not at Parliament Buildings yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition. Mr Lange, described Mr Cooper's actions as part of the “Arthur and Martha government's strategy." “I predicted yesterday that there would be noises made against the trip and I predicted that they would go. It is exactly what they do. They appeal to one segment and appeal to the other. It is typical of a Government which does not know where it is going.” Mr Cooper said he was realistic enough to accept that the two members he had spoken to so far were going to go to South Africa. He said he regretted their decision to go, and that there had been a general feeling in the caucus for some time that trips to South Africa should be avoided.

The South African Consul, Mr Barry Moolman, said that when the invitation was extended. Mr Jones had expressed concern that Mr J. 3 . Anderton, president of the Labour Party, had been refused a visa in the past.,

“We then told him in confidence that he need not be concerned about that — any member of Parliament, be it Labour, National or Social Credit, would be welcome to go to South Africa."

Mr Anderton’s failure to get a visa was now "something of history” and he was welcome to go there.

Mr Moolman said yesterday that Mr Jones had let this slip out during an interview. All applications for visas were kept confidential, but things became difficult when dealing with public figures. Mr Anderton yesterday demanded to know how private negotiations over his South African visa application were revealed to Mr Jones.

He was “very annoyed and confused.” Mr Anderton said. It was extraordinary that a National Party member of Parliament was making announcements about his visa. “I w’ant to know how Mr Jones knows about my private affairs — who told him and what is going on.

“I want to know what link there is between Mr Jones and the South African Government.”

Mr Jones spoke of the visa when questioned about his own trip to South Africa. Mr Anderton’s first application was made before the Springbok tour of New Zealand in 1981 with the aim of seeing, meeting, and discussing the impact of apartheid with a number of people. He said he was “messed about” for months and was finally told after the team left the country, to reapply. Another application was made in confidence last year but it was not until a few weeks ago that the consulate told him that the visa was approved subject to certain conditions.

He was not prepared to say what the conditions were.

“I am still looking at it. Obviously I have to be in touch with people who understand what this set of conditions means.”

Mr Lange said there was a “world of difference” between the invitation accepted by the three Government members of Parliament and the trip planned by Mr Anderton. Mr Anderton was not “asking the South African Government to pay for him to go.”

Mr Hunt said he would be going to South Africa with an open and inquiring mind.

“As far as I am concerned you cannot close your eyes to what has happened in South Africa ... the opportunity to see for ourselves is very important."