What promised to be one of the most important forums this year, certainly fulfilled its role.

However, last Wednesday's Anti-Apartheid Club's forum was, without the presence of any pro-tour speakers, a rather one sided affair, and even when the floor was opened to questions nobody came out strongly against the speakers' views.

Motherhood and Apple Pie

Trevor Richards (ex chairperson of Hart, but still on the national committee) spoke first, outlining the need for opposition. If the tour went ahead it would be "a direct form of encouragement for apartheid, and in opposition to the oppressed majority of Azanian blacks," he said.

The vast majority of New Zealanders are opposed to apartheid, but only because that opposition has been instilled into them; similar to a liking for motherhood and apple-pie. Many are not aware of the extent to which blacks are discriminated against. "Apartheid is a system totally determined by colour," he explained. Voting, land distribution, health services, and education are all based on this corrupt institution, that merely ensures economic goodies for the white minority through a cheap labour force; the black majority.

Cosmetic Cover-ups

Sport, like these other areas, is also determined by colour. Those who think it has changed are merely being deluded by the cosmetic cover ups of the South African Government. It was recently admitted by a South African Minister that less than 1% of South African sport is integrated.

Those non-racial groups which attempt to play integrated sport, suffer harassment by the authorities, loss of passports and jobs, Richards stated. "You cannot have normal sport in an abnormal society."

He then went on to tell of a national organisation, Cast '81, which was set up last year in Azania. This was composed of 31 national groups and committees which condemn sporting contacts with their country in an effort to win liberation for their oppressed black members.

"The message is brief, simple and overwhelmingly powerful". By opposing the tour "we will be giving a psychological boost to the blacks of South Africa."

Violence?

A little closer to home, he spoke of the question of violence. "There has been a conscious campaign in the media to suggest that the source of any violence will be from anti-tour supporters." This in fact is not the case, as he explained, detailing a recent break-in at the Hart offices, resulting in destruction of files and several windows. Another recent case perhaps sums it up; the attack on TV journalists by Ron Don, and his subsequent conviction.

It is not too late to have the tour stopped, Richards said, giving evidence of abrupt cancellations in the past. "It is the Government's responsibility to stop this tour, and this can be done by denying of visas to the Springboks. Most Commonwealth countries have done it in the past, why can't we?"

Finally, he said by stopping the tour we will be inflicting a "psychological blow that will cripple the South African Government, and gain a psychological victory for black South Africa."

Ex-All Black Condemns Tour

Ken Gray, one of the great ex-All Blacks, spoke in opposition to the tour, claiming that it would be "to the detrement of rugby in New Zealand."

Ex-All Black Ken Gray (right) and Anti-Apartheid Club president David Murray.

"I am aware of a widespread change of feeling" which has "divided people in sporting circles" and throughout the whole of the country, he said. The late '70's saw "the middle classes becoming involved instead of just universities and trade unions."

With the present issue, "if we had been firmer much earlier it would not have come to this". It now seems that rugby is by itself, against all other sports. He too was worried about the aspect of violence if the tour goes ahead, and believed that "we have enough potential racial problems in New Zealand as it is."

"Come July, people will have to make a decision one way or another."

Forms of Protest

Well, it seems that the majority of the audience had already decided that they were against the tour, for there were no questions critical of either speaker's attitudes.

In reply to questions concerning the march on May 1, Trevor Richards said that it would be used as a "springboard" for further protest. The reaction to the protest would determine future activity.

Other forms of protesting could and should be utilised however, for those people who see demonstrations as too radical. These involve writing letters or phoning people in positions of authority. "A concerted effort should be made to get to MPs," Richards said. The demonstrating does not end with May 1; it is only the beginning.

Peter Hassett