Peter Hain Fund
Sir: I was not impressed by the letter from Lord Avebury on November 13 appealing for financial assistance for the defence of Mr Peter Hain on the charges of conspiracy being brought against hint
The cancellation of the South African cricket tour in 1970 was a shameful submission by the then British government to a campaign organised by Mr Hain to prevent a Perfectly legal activity — the Playing of cricket between two international teams. That is what his prosecution is all about. Informed opinion in the sporting World, both here and in South Africa, is in no doubt that the cancellation of the tour will not 4ffect one iota the apartheid Policies of the South African government. It only lowered the standard of international cricket. The astounding statement in the letter that the cancellation of the tour was a 'great triumph for nonracialism ' is a complete distortion of the facts. The South African cricketers have shown on cricket fields all over the world that they are as non-racialist as Mr Hain i.hunself, but I suspect that Mr Hain
little about the game of cricket apart from its suitability as a Political punch-ball. I am fully prepared to subscribe to any anti-apartheid fund, but not, in this instance to a fund for the legal assistance of Mr Hain Whose methods I •consider have been no asset to the anti-arartheld cause. Instead, on the issue of individual freedom, my cheque will go to help his prosecution.
G. A. Hodcroft Rotherwood, Sandy Lane, Stretford, Manchester
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