Bid to stop plane

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 4

Bid to stop plane

A national day of action would centre on Saturday’s New Zealand-Australia rugby test in Auckland. Major protest could be expected, said Mr Minto.

Action until now had been on a broad front against businesses sponsoring rugby and travel agencies advertising rugby supporters’ tours to South Africa, but that was to change. Hart did not want to get involved in violence but “every effective and strong protest will be employed to bring an end to the tour,” said Mr Minto.

All potential All Blacks,

especially those playing on Saturday against Australia, would be approached and given information in an attempt to dissuade them from touring.

“Some are concerned about the moral implications of going to South Africa. Until they decide to go we will continue to work on the assumption they are undecided,” he said.

“The campaign, however, is to focus sharply on Rugby Union councillors.” Mr Minto said the coalition would organise national action on July 12, when the council was to meet next.

Specific action would depend on local areas but demonstrations and pickets were the most likely means

of protest, he said. Mr Minto said more pressure would be put on the Government to take a more practical stand against the tour. There were many steps to stop the tour the Government had not picked up.

Many of the 35 anti-tour campaigners from throughout New Zealand at the meeting also attended the ceremony at the war memorial in commemoration of Soweto Day. A similar ceremony the previous week resulted in arrests when returned servicemen clashed with antitour people, but few servicemen were evident at yesterday’s ceremony, which attracted about 50 people.