Written visa pledge offer

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 64

Written visa pledge offer

PA Wellington Rugby’s World Cup organisers could have a clear statement that visas would be withheld from a South African team wishing to enter New Zealand in 1987 if it was requested, the' acting Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, said yesterday. Mr Palmer said a Labour Government would withhold visas from a Springbok team if organisers decided to allow South African participation. He was commenting on remarks made by the Briton heading the World Cup steering committee, Mr John Kendall-Carpenter. Yesterday Mr KendallCarpenter was reported as saying that no decision had yet been made on which countries should be invited

to the World Cup. He said his committee wanted clear written statements from the Australian Government and the New Zealand Government on their policies on the possible issue of visas to South African players. Mr Palmer said his Government had not received a request for such a statement from the World Cup organisers. “I have had no such request, but we will have no difficulty in answering it if it is made,” Mr Palmer said. He said the Government’s policy on the issue had been clearly spelt out by the Minister of Recreation and Sport, Mr Moore. The World Cup is scheduled to be held in New

Zealand and Australia in 1987. Mr Kendall-Carpenter based his comments on a statement by the New South Wales Sports Minister, Mr Michael Cleary, who said he had been told by the Australia Rugby Union president, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, that World Cup organisers had decided to exclude South Africa. Mr Kendall-Carpenter said Mr Cleary’s statement was “in advance of reality.” However Mr Cleary said on. Monday: “Sir Nicholas told me that South Africa would not be invited.” Mr Moore said on Monday that New Zealand would withhold visas from a South African team, so there was no question of the Springboks participating in World Cup matches here.