Support for S.A. rugby contacts challenged

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 32

Support for S.A. rugby contacts challenged

Wellington A Wellington businessman. Mr Ron Evans, is prepared to pax' for the cost of a national i efeiendum to find out whether New Zealand rugby players and administrators support continued contacts with South Africa.

Mr Evans believes this is the best way to challenge an assertion by the chairman ot rhe Auckland union, Mr Ron Don, that 95 per cent of New Zealanders supported the visit to South Africa bv him and two other N.Z.R.F.U. councillors. Mr Evans, who is closely’ associated with the Marist-; St Pat’s and Centurions clubs, wants to know where! Mr Don picked up such al statistic. “I am prepared to put this! to the test by paying for al pull of all rugby players, [ administrators and sports-i men to see if they agree that we should maintain that | sort of contact with South I Africa.” Mr Evans said. “If the poll does show 951 per cent in favour, and I; don’t think that is possible.] then we are in a pretty sick I Slate as a country.” he said. Mr Evans would buy tick-1

nets for himself and the rest I Hof his family to leave New; Zealand if Mr Don was; ilbacked up by the poll. ’ He is particularly upset i 11 that Mr Ivan Vodanovich.i : who was one of the coun-, jcillors who went to South] Africa, is managing a New ( ’Zealand Maori team in the! Islands next month. ; “It is ridiculous that he I would go with the team ~ II when the Polynesian leaders’! attitude to South Africa is j iso clear,” Mr Evans said. .I Since coming out against, rugby contact with South! I Africa six weeks ago, Mr •Evans has had a steady] i stream of telegrams and! messages of support. I Mr Evans wishes the an-] • Inual meeting of the I N.Z.R.F.U. to fully discuss (future contact with South' I Africa but believes there | will be little said at the! I meeting.

I Mr Evans is also upset that Mr Don chose to “put 'down” the chairman of the New Zealand Rowing Association, Mr Don Rowlands, 'who suggested that New (Zealand could be banned I from the Moscow Games if the three councillors went to I South Africa. Mr Don denied that he j ever said 95 per cent of new j sportsmen were in favour of i his vist to South Africa. I Rather, he was quoting a : survey carried out by a i newspaper, the “New Zealand Truth.” which, he said, claimed that 95 per cent of I New Zealanders were in favour of a merit-selected jSpringbok tour in 1981. “I did not criticise my (good friend, Mr D. D. Rowlands, but I did correct a re- ; port mistakenly made by ' him,” he said.