Tour ‘risk to vital exports

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 1

Tour ‘risk to vital exports

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PATRICIA HERBERT

Dy rAiiviviA a in Wellington The Government yesterday warned the New Zealand Rugby Union that vital export markets could be threatened if the South African tour goes ahead. The warning came in a joint statement from the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, and the Minister of Overseas Trade, Mr Moore, both of whom returned at the week-end from trade missions. Mr Moore has been round — the A.S.E.A.N. capitals and Mr Moyle to the Middle East. “Politicians and traders we spoke to on our respective trips left us in no doubt that great harm will be done in New Zealand’s trade relationships with North African, Middle Eastern, and South-East Asian countries if the tour goes ahead,”

the two Ministers said. “They cannot understand our system that could allow such a tour to proceed. They are appalled that a country they view as a friend and trading partner could send a team to South Africa. “North African, SouthEast Asian, and Middle Eastern people see this issue in basic terms. They see it as an endorsement of South Africa’s apartheid policies. “We are adamant that the cost of the All Blacks touring South Africa is too high both in terms of our trading relationships and international standing and therefore it should not proceed,” they said. The chairman of the Rugby Union council, Mr Ces Blazey, indicated however, that it was not good enough to say that damage “could be done.” The Minis-

ters would have to back up their assertions with some evidence, he said. Beyond that, he had no comment to make on the matter, saying that he had nothing to add to what he had said on Saturday and that this would remain the case “unless something quite dramatic happened.” In the meantime, the Acting; Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, seems anxious td defuse the tensions which sprang up on the issue at the 1 week-end and to avoid proyoking the Rugby Union any: further. Yesterday Mr Palmer asked protest groups “not to escalate their activities” because the Government’s position was clear and was being stated strongly. He also said he thought the '.council’s request for “clarification of some pointe” in the letter from

the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, was probably directed at getting more information on what the damaging effects to New Zealand would be should the tour proceed. This contrasts with suggestions by Mr Lange that the councillors are playing politics by deferring their decision until April 17. Also, while Mr Lange has said his statement that “the tour must not proceed” is a direct order, Mr Palmer is now presenting it as a request. He said Mr Lange had urged the Rugby Unjon “in the strongest possible terms” not to accept the invitation and that the dispute over whether it was a command or a plea was “semantic.” This was because the Government did not have the legal capacity to pre-

vent the All Blacks from going to South Africa and it did not intend to change the passports law to give itself that power. It was a question of moral suasion: of presenting the anti-tour case and the national interest as plainly, as unambiguously, as clearly, and as powerfully as possible, Mr Palmer said. No penalties or sanctions had been threatened against the Rugby Union should it decide “to flout everything that is good for this country,” he said. Neither were any planned. Mr Palmer’s comments in large part answered questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, yesterday. Mr McLay called on Mr Lange to say what, if anything, he would do if the Rugby Union did not obey “his so-called command.”