Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 21. August 28 1978
[Introduction]
1. In a letter dated 15 June 1978 sent by the Prime Minister to a supporter of the anti-apartheid movement, Mr Muldoon stated that 'on 15 June 1977 the New Zealand Parliament unanimously endorsed the Gleneagles Agreement'.
This is untrue. This is born out by a close reading of Hansard and by comments made earlier this year by the MP for Hastings, Robert Fenton, who said that he would have forced a division in Parliament if the Deputy Prime Minister had sought to lebate Notices of Motion which called upon Parliament to endorse the Agreement.
2. In a letter dated 14 July written by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr L. Adams-Schneider) to Mr I.K. Baxter, the Acting Minister stated: 'I must contest your assertion that since the Gleneagles Agreement there have been fifteen different sporting contacts with South Africa. To the best of my knowledge there have been five such contacts, none of which have involved a national team in a major sport.'
This statement is totally inaccurate. Hart is aware of at least twenty contacts which have taken place in breach of the Gleneagles Agreement. Hart has sought to advise the Government in advance wherever possible of sporting contacts which will involve New Zealand and South Africa. It is difficult, if not impossible, to know how it is possible for the Acting Minister to assert that there have only been five contacts when Hart has drawn the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to many more than five contacts.
3. In a letter dated 20 June written by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr Gerald Davidson, the Acting Minister said: "I would contest your statement that many more contacts with South Africa are planned. To my knowledge this is not so."
Hart has advised the Minister of six contacts involving New Zealand and South Africa scheduled to take place between September and December. This list does not include any contacts between professional sportsmen, which are reaching epidemic level.
To people genuinely concerned about the effect of sporting relations with South Africa, this definitely constitutes 'many more' contracts.
Hart considers that the above clearly establishes that there is a very considerable difference between the actual situation, and the situation as it is being represented by Government Ministers.