Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973

Constant Attacks on H.A.R.T

Constant Attacks on H.A.R.T.

The National Anti-Apartheid Committee's plans for Sharpeville Day were well known to both the S.A.L. and the M.L.G. at the time they were having their initial discussions about demonstrations on Sharpeville Day. The M.L.G., which took the initiative in organising small meetings to discuss its ideas, has been fairly careful to avoid cutting across the plans of the established anti-apartheid groups. The S.A.L. on the other hand, appears not only to have broken away from the discussions organised by the M.L.G. but also to have decided to attempt to upstage the National Committee's plans for Sharpeville Day. In view of the fact that the S.A.L., through its paper Socialist Action, paid no attention to the Tour or anti-apartheid activity last year, apart from constant attacks on H.A.R.T., its latest moves can only be seen as a deliberate sectarian attempt to split the anti-apartheid movement.

At a time when the Government has not yet announced what it will do about the Springbok Tour and there are signs that the South African Government and the South African Rugby Board may try to fool New Zealanders by sending a sham 'multi-racial' team, unity between the groups opposing the tour, and apartheid in general, is vitally important. Although the anti-apartheid movement in New Zealand is supported by individuals and groups covering a wide range of political opinion, those involved in it have always managed to look beyond sectarian squabbling and face up to the real issues of opposing apartheid sport etc. as a united force. Sectarian groups which have in the past let others do all the organisational and educational work against N.Z's contacts with apartheid, and then try to split the movement deserve no support.