P.M. will not try to stop S.A. visit

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 1

P.M. will not try to stop S.A. visit

Parliamentary reporter The Government could not tell its three backbenchers that they should not go to. South Africa, said the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, yesterday. Asked whether he. was disappointed that the three members of Parliament — Mr N. H. P. Jones (Invercargill), Mr R. L. Bell (Gisborne), and Mr T. de V. Hunt (Pakuranga) - were going at the invitation of the South African Government to South Africa, Mr Muldoon said that “disappointed” was not a word he would use. “We have had members of Parliaments visit South Africa and other countries with which we don’t see eye to eye, but we did not attempt to stop them from going,” he said. “In 1972. when I was Leader of the Opposition. I went to the Soviet Union, but it did hot imply anything more than that I had an invitation which I accepted. “I paid my own fare, but expenses were paid for me inside the Soviet Union. I found the visit extremely interesting, but I was far from convinced. I rather think these members will have the same reaction.”

Mr Muldoon said he knew in January that the three backbenchers had received the invitation. The Government Whips were told, and they had informed him. “But where do we go in saying to a member. ‘You cannot travel to a particular country.’ It doesn't come within the ambit of Gleneagles; there is no obligation' on the Government to dissuade them.

“They are backbenchers. They can make their own decisions.”

Asked if the planned visit would weaken the Government’s attempts to stop visits of sports teams to South Africa, Mr Muldoon said, “Not in my mind.” “My attitude to sporting contacts with South Africa is well and widely known.” There was no point in his talking to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Cooper, he said, in answer to a question. “I don’t see the point. They have already decided to go.”

Mr Cooper had made certain statements (trying to dissuade them from going) and it was appropriate that he had. Mr Muldoon said.

He denied he had approved the trip in January. The

Government’s Chief Whip. Mr McKinnon, said the Whips usually considered leave applications without consulting the party leadership. But when applications "could obviously have political repercussions" they were taken to the Leader of the House, Mr Thomson, or Mr Muldoon.

Mr McKinnon said he approved the applications after he talked to Mr Muldoon. Mr D. C. Kidd, the member for Marlborough, revealed yesterday he had earlier this year declined an invitation to visit South Africa, reports NZPA. Mr Kidd said he had received an "informal” invitation from the South African Consul-General to visit the country. The invitation was not related to the proposed tour by the three members, Messrs Jones. Bell, and Hunt. Mr Kidd said he was not talked out of visiting South Africa by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Cooper. "I considered the invitation and I declined it.” Mr Kidd said.

"Mr Cooper was not even aware of the invitation, which I received early in the New Year." ■