Politicians at rugby criticised
Rugby reporter An accusation that two politicians tried to make political capital out of their attendance at Saturday’s rugby test at Lancaster Park was made at a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. The politicians were not mentioned by name, but the two concerned were the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lange, and another Labour member of Parliament, Mr Mike Moore. Both men were plainly in view in front of the stands before the kick-off.
The matter was raised by a committee member of the union, Mr Vic Thomas. He said he wished to express his concern and displeasure about an incident which occurred just before the test started. “The activities of certain members of a particular political party, in association with Television New Zealand, in staging what I consider to have been a political stunt was viewed with distaste by me, and, no doubt, by many members of the public as well,” said Mr Thomas. “For it to have occurred while the Skellerup Band was entertaining the public was, in my view, an insult
to the band.” Mr Thomas said that rugby had always maintained a stance of noninterference in politics, and it was simply "not on” for the test to be used for political gimmickry. His claim of political gimmickry was surely confirmed by the filming of the episode on “Eyewitness News” on Monday evening, he said.
Mr Thomas said he would like to see the matter investigated, if only to ensure that nothing similar happened again. A number of other members supported Mr Thomas’s argument that it was wrong for politicians to use a rugby test to promote themselves.
Mr Benj Drake said it was usual for V.I.P. guests to be met, taken to the committee room, and then escorted to their seats. This did not happen with the two men mentioned on Saturday because no advice of their movements was given. Nor, said Mr Drake, did they follow the usual practice of thanking someone in authority afterwards.
“I think the television item showed how ludicrous the whole affair was,” he said.
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Press, 20 June 1984, Page 1
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351Politicians at rugby criticised Press, 20 June 1984, Page 1
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