Hart speech ban upsets

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 2

Hart speech ban upsets

PA Auckland Several Papakura Rotary Club members were upset about the withdrawal of an invitation to Hart’s leader, Mr John Minto, to address them, said the club secretary, Mr Warren Garlick. But one or two members were fairly strongly opposed to the idea, so the club decided to cancel the address rather than cause dissension, he said. Mr Minto has accused the club of a . “neanderthal attitude” ’■ for cancelling his speaking • engagement on November 15. Mr Minto, the chairman of the anti-apartheid organ-

isation, said he accepted the invitation five weeks ago, only to be told last Friday that it was called off. He believed the club had kept its invitation open for a South African Rotary Exchange student to address them next month. Mr Garlick said he supported Mr Minto’s visit. “Personally I am very upset about it because I think we should look at all sides of the story,” he said, v • ■. Mr Garlick said he did not organise the invitations and did hot know whether a South African student would be speaking.