Minister ignorant of S.A. situation’

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 10

Minister ignorant of S.A. situation’

The associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Wilde, appeared to be completely ignorant of the real situation in Southern Africa, a spokesman for the Yaldhurst National Party electorate branch, Mr Bert Walker, claimed yesterday.

Ms Wilde had earlier described comments by the former National Government Cabinet Minister as “ill informed and wide of the mark.” Mr Walker had claimed that New Zealand was giving financial assistance to “questionable” Commonwealth anti-apartheid

programmes. Yesterday he continued his attack on Government policies.

“The Associate Minister appears to speak in total ignorance of what in fact is going on in Southern Africa. She appears to rely entirely on propaganda as a basis on which to give away New Zealand taxpayers’ money. “No country in the world, New Zealand included, does more for its indigenous people than does South Africa.” If the Government was sincere in its stated desire to assist the blacks of Southern Africa, it should

arrange a visit of senior politicians to the country, Mr Walker said.

"Total dependence on propaganda is not good enough as a basis on which to squander New Zealand taxpayers’ money.

In addition to her own black population, South Africa feeds 50 million people in the dictatorships north of her border. In education, black South African schools use the world’s most advanced and effective methods of teaching.

“If the Labour Government wants to give away taxpayers’ money and has a genuine concern for people, it is this type of operation that they should be helping, not those who specialise in terrorism.”