Boycotts no solution to S.A. problem — M.P.

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 9

Boycotts no solution to S.A. problem — M.P.

PA Wellington Boycotts would not help resolve the problems facing South Africa, said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, last evening. They could only be resolved by negotiations and by South African political leaders agreeing to the means by which apartheid would be ended. “It will not be resolved by boycotts,” he told NZPA. However, he said he believed the Commonwealth would not break up in spite of the row. He was still confident there would be a successful Games in 1990 in Auckland. The Commonwealth was held together by far more than sporting ties,

Mr Bolger said.lt was far too important an international group to allow even a major disagreement to undermine it. He believed Auckland would successfully host the Games in 1990. There would have been significant moves for change in South Africa well before then.

There would now be disappointment in New Zealand that sportsmen and women were again caught up in an international political power Play.

The Edinburgh Games would still be important in spite of the boycott However, it would lose some impact with the withdrawal of some key athletes.

Mr Bolger said he did not believe the New Zealand Government could take any significant initiatives in the dispute, in spite of Auckland hosting the 1990 Games.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, last evening said he had nothing further to say about the situation. On Friday he said countries which boycotted the Games in Edinburgh risked fragmenting the Commonwealth.

Rather than pursuing a strategy aimed at pressing Britain into applying sanctions against South Africa to change its apartheid laws, black African States and other countries would achieve more by working together within the Commonwealth, he said.