M.P. praises Mr Blazey

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 4

M.P. praises Mr Blazey

The chairman of the Rugby Union, Mr Ces Blazey, is just the sort of person New Zealand needs to protect its basic freedoms, says the member of Parliament for Ashburton, Mr Rob Talbot.

Mr Talbot said yesterday that after the events of the last few days when the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, met the Rugby Union, it was “imperative in the name of democracy, civil rights, and the freedom to choose that the (All Black) tour (to South Africa) go ahead.”

“Mr Ces Blazey and the Rugby Union council deserve the commendation of all freedom-loving New Zealanders for fobbing off a blatant, last-minute attempt by the Prime Minister to

stop the tour,” Mr Talbot said.

By taking notice of Mr Lange’s pleas, the Rugby Union “would have shattered one of our fundamental civil rights — that is, the right to make decisions without being continually molested by a paranoic Government,” said Mr Talbot.

"Thank God for people such as Ces Blazey. He has distinguished himself as the type of person New Zealand needs at this time with the integrity, character, and determination to defend our basic freedoms,” he said. The Rugby Union had established itself as having “the qualities required which are all too rare in dealings with a devious Government.”