Where Now?

Paul Grocott concludes: "Inspector Moodie, who had the misfortune to be in charge on Friday night, and Magistrate Jamieson have both said things which indicate a change in attitude, and a change in the authorities' approach to our scene. They don't want us in their gaols or even in their courts. They are impressed (in a sense) by the role of peaceful protest. As Shadbolt told them in court: 'You've got to choose between the lesser of two evils—violence and peaceful protest. I think you should encourage peaceful protest.'

"And so," Grocott continues, "I think we will see a new approach. The law-enforcement people will have to work out a new way for handling peaceful protest. None (or few) of them (let alone us) want a repeat of Friday night. The overall benefits and impetus for the cause of peaceful change in New Zealand society which have come out of the climax of the anti-Tour movement will, I think, become more clear in the months ahead. The other results are still eagerly awaited."

An optimistic summation but one which, like most of my comments to this point, makes little reference to the pro-racial equality movement and its future. The effect of the anti-Tour protest has been over-estimated by the protesters. In protesting against the Tour, we took it for granted that the majority of New Zealanders regarded as repugnant apartheid and the premises of racial superiority on which that policy rests. But we were wrong. The pro-apartheid propaganda continues. The rugby tour may provide the propagandists for apartheid with some pretty hard-hitting material. (The Dominion carried a 'news story' last Monday headed "All Blacks impressed by Transkei: Apartheid providing better life—Laidlaw".) The struggle for racial equality may not even be one that we're winning. But it must be won.

David Harcourt