Cricket tour

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 20

Cricket tour

Sir, —Are New Zealanders so politically “punch drunk” and mentally “clean bowled” that they will not be allowed to enjoy the Englishmen playing cricket here? Was there one word of. Government or other protest when the Whitbread global yachtsmen, after lengthy sporting and social contact at Cape Town, were officially lauded in Auckland at Government and civic level? Will we meekly see our jewellers bankrupted, and unemployment accelerated if this pious policy prohibits South African diamond imports? Do politicians or spouses buy jewellery? I believe our people are becoming mentally sheepdrenched, conditioned and anaesthetised to this. Having attended a United Nations session (not particularly impressed, either), I contend that some participants therein have the best jobs they have ever known. Charity begins at "home. —Yours, etc.,

JOHN LESLIE. December 12, 1988

Sir, —It is sickening to hear our politicians and others baying like hounds to the Cricket Council to stop the tour. Just a few years ago most of the team invited played in this country and no-one tried to bar their lentry then. It seems quite in 'order for our cricketers to accept positions in English county

teams during the northern summer and play with and against these so-called rebels, but when another country chooses to cancel its arrangements on conscience grounds some New Zealand sympathisers have to screech “unclean.” Why? — Yours, etc., T. LESLIE. December 12’ 1988.

Sir, —Mr Winston Peters says (December 14) that the English cricket tour “must go ahead.” His alleged condemnation of the principals of the 1990 Commonwealth Games Association does not augur well for New Zealand moving towards 1990, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the bubbles that will be there for the bursting on our own doorstep in the two years ahead. I note Mr Peters’ closing comment about Government priorities during the time of maximum (economic) peril. No doubt the use of sports and festivals will become acceptable to people in Government, Opposition, and business, as a way of taking attention away from the ills of our society and/or making vague promises for the future. The English cricket tour must have

come as “a gift” to fill part of the two years.—Yours, etc.,

KENNETH EBER MARTIN. December 15, 1988.