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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 17, 1981
PAGE 7
This problem will not go away. Despite recent actions to limit immigration
into Britain from other parts of the Commonwealth, further racial problems
are inevitable due to the sizeable numbers of immigrants, and their des
cendants already present and growing. One out of every three births in the
Greater London area is to a mother not herself born in Britain. The problem
of the "non-Ephraimitish" element in the British home isles has been
heating up for a long while; now it has finally boiled over. Notice Hosea
7: 8-9: "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people.•• Strangers have
devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not."
As Britain goes, so goes the Commonwealth. The future of the multi-nation,
multi-ethnic association, carved out of the old Empire in 1931, is now more
clouded than ever before. Sport--the game of rugby, specifically--just
might do the Commonwealth in. The burning issue at the moment is whether
the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, should be permitted
to play a series of games in New Zealand against that nation's all-star
team.
While Britain is having her "long, hot summer," New Zealand is having its
"winter of discontent." The controversial rugby tour dominates the head
lines in New Zealand, overriding all other issues in the public mind, even
inflati0n and unemployment.
The South Africans are due to arrive July 19. The government says it will
not interfere with a series of games scheduled between New Zealand's "All
Blacks" (named for the color of their uniforms) and the Springboks. The two
teams are recognized as being the tops in international rugby play. Hence,
an aura of "world cup" or "world series" play prevails. (Rugby is almost a
religion in both countries.)
The South African team (selected by merit from the country's top players)
contains one "coloured" player.
(South African blacks generally prefer
soccer football.) However, this team's openness to integrated play has not
stilled vehement opponents in New Zealand and elsewhere who demand that the
Springbok tour �e cancelled so' as not to condone South Africa's apartheid
system.
The controversy has wide ramifications. In 1976, more than 30 Third World
countries withdrew from the Olympic Games in Montreal because New Zealand
fielded an Olympic squad after the All Blacks had played the Springboks
earlier that year, this time in South Africa.
The return series between the two sides could even be more disruptive this
time around.
The dispute is souring New Zealand's relations with its
nearest neighbor, Australia, and endangering its standing with other,
largely non-white Commonwealth nations.
Both sporting and political relations are affected. First of all, black
African nations have threatened to boycott future international events in
which
New Zealand participates. This could sabotage the next Commonwealth
Games scheduled for Australia in 1982.
But even before then, political sparks could fly. Here again Australia is
caught in the middle. Canberra is scheduled to host, in October, the next
Commonwealth heads of government conference.
This is believed to be in
jeopardy if the Springbok tour goes on as planned.