Rugby union for tour

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 1

Rugby union for tour

The Canterbury Rugoy Union has in effect voted in favour of this year’s proposed All Black tour to South Africa. At a special meeting last evening a motion that the Canterbury union “do all in its power to persuade the New Zealand Rugby Union to decline acceptance of the invitation to tour South Africa in 1985” was lost in a secret ballot. There were 36 votes in support of the motion and 61 against, with two votes declared invalid. The motion, held over from the annual meeting of three weeks ago, was proposed by the Xavier College delegate, Mr Peter Tolich.

Mr Tolich said that the tour would have long-term detrimental effects on rugby and bring about a decline in support from schools and teaching staff. The seconder of the motion, Mr John Irving (St Andrew’s College), said that delegates must put aside any selfish motives they might have for supporting the tour. He said that the tour would have “adverse effects on rugby in our country, especially at the grassroots level." Life members and officers of the Canterbury Rugby Union were allowed to vote in addition to the various delegates from clubs, schools, and associa-

tions. One notable club not present was New Brighton, one of the biggest in Christchurch. Mr Dawson Cunningham, the union’s secretary, said that New Brighton would be abstaining. Mr Mervyn Barnett, the president, said he did not want to stifle discussion on the motion, but he presumed that delegates had come prepared to vote. There was no discussion, and the meeting lasted little more than 30 minutes.

After announcing the result of the ballot, Mr Barnett said that he would pass the feelings of the meeting to the New Zealand union.

He thanked delegates for their near 100 per cent

attendance and the way that the “discussion of this subject” had been handled in clubs.

“You have had many good meetings and constructive arguments have been made,” he said. There were no anti-tour protesters outside the meeting held at Lancaster Park, but there was a small collection of tour supporters. A placard on top of a parked car said, “Support the tour” on one side and made a derogatory reference to the Hart organisation on the other. A person wearing a black mask made his support of the tour clear with a message on his cape.