Waihi Fund

While some of the country's radicals were intellectualising in Wellington over the weekend, more than 150 others had made their way to Waihi to demonstrate against the all-white South African Surf-lifesaving team competing there. A party of twelve from Wellington, including one of the newly-appointed VUW Hart Area Officers and members of the local PYM made the trip.

By 10.30 on Saturday morning, with the arrival of 3 buses from Auckland and one from Hamilton, more than 150 demonstrators had assembled near Waihi. They then marched down to the beach where a re-enactment of the Sharpeville Massacre took place, followed by speeches from antiracist leaders.

After lunch the marchpast of teams competing in the lifesaving carnival took place: more than 70 uniformed police and surf club members lined a rope barrier that had been erected to prevent access to the con petition area. An eighteen-year-old Aucklander, Andrew Kay, leapt the fence and began marching behind the South African team carrying a sign reading "South African surf brings the team out all white." He was arrested by police. He was followed by two girls, one of whom was dumped on the ground by a surf club member: in the melee which followed police arrested a Wellington student. Gavin Thompson. Both those arrested appeared before a special sitting of the Waihi Magistrate's Court and were remanded on bail of their own recognisance until April 5th.

A fund has been established to provide for legal and other expense Donations may be sent to "Waihi Fund", V.U.W.S.A, Box 196, Wellington, or handed in at the Studass office.