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Tour talk

Is New Zealand condoning racism by lending the All Blacks to South Africa?

This was the subject of a recent debate held in the university under the auspices of the Socialist Club.

Mr M. Rata, MP for Northern Maori, spoke for the affirmative, while the negative was taken by Mr J. Mitchell, a member of the Friends of Rhodesia Society.

Mr Rata said that "while the problem must be solved by the "South Africans, whatever stand we take either enhances or disillusions them."

He did not think that the glory given to All Blacks was worth it, at the cost of 11 million people.

Mr Mitchell used as his argument a parallel example between New Zealand and Russia. "Are we condoning, or even encouraging. Communism by trading with Soviet Russia, or participating against them in the Olympic Games?" he asked.

Owen Gager, speaking from the floor, suggested that the All Blacks be trained in the arts of sabotage and guerilla warfare. He saw the Tour as a perfect opportunity to infiltrate behind enemy lines.

The result of a vote taken at the end was 151 to 7 in favour of the affirmative.