Mr Dutton does not expect reprisals

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 68

Mr Dutton does not expect reprisals

PA Wellington Mr Roy Dutton leaves today for a Commonwealth Games federation meeting in Edinburgh and does not fear reprisals against New Zealand because of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. The chairman of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association said last evening that he did not expect moves to expel the Kiwis from next year’s games. However, he added that as a precaution he would lobby in London later this week to help defuse any possible move to squeeze New Zealand out of the 1986 Games ... “We’re prepared, but I don’t expect anything drastic.” The New Zealand team commandant for the games, Mr Dutton will put forward next Monday and Tuesday New Zealand’s case following the New Zealand Rugby Union’s decision to go ahead with the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. It will be 10 years next year since the 1976 All Blacks toured South Africa which prompted a mass African boycott of the Olympic Games in Montreal. Mr Dutton said the Commonwealth federation in London had written expressing satisfaction with the N.Z.O.C.G.A. in discouraging sporting contacts with South Africa. Last year he said the English O.C.G.A. had not made every immediate effort in coming out against England’s rugby tour to South Africa, said Mr Dutton.