Page 2453 - Week 11 - Thursday, 2 November 1989
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Unfortunately, I became undone. I found that because I sat down at the table in my own house with the maid, who happened to be black, I was taken into Marshall Square and warned that I had 24 hours to get out of the country, that you did not fraternise with blacks.
This was a thing I had never known in my life. The fact is that I found it unbelievable. I always remember as a small child an Aboriginal gentleman came to apply for a job with my father. His statement was, "Do you have a job for a blackfellow?". My father's answer was, "I have got a job for a man, and if you are man enough to do it you have got the job".
So I had never known such racism and I could not believe it. I find to this day, although we hear that they are relaxing a lot of the laws there, they are not being relaxed fast enough. The fact, as my colleague has just said, that people have been kept on death row for the time that they have is, I believe, the most terrible punishment that you can impose on anybody. I fully support him.
I am against Mrs Thatcher saying that this is not the way to go. I believe this is the only way to go. I think the reason why we have had changes for the better in South Africa is that the world has recognised the fact that we do not trade with South Africa and we do not help them. I think this is the only way to go, and I fully support my colleague in this.
Calls by the Chair
DR KINLOCH (5.22): I wish to endorse the comments of Mr Berry and Mrs Grassby. You will appreciate that, if my wife and I went to South Africa, we would not be able to stay in the same hotel. I have very strong feelings about such matters.
Mr Speaker, I cast no imputation whatever, may I say, on your judgment on who gets up, but I am aware often that, for instance, if Mr Kaine and I get up at the same time I cannot see you, so you cannot see me. I was aware today that several people got three calls to my one. So I think there is a kind of blind spot here - not your fault, I am saying. I think there are problems with this room and I am truly conscious of somehow or other being tucked behind a pillar. So I make no imputation whatever about you. Indeed may I say, in the events of the last three weeks, what a superb job you have done as Speaker. I would now like to ask Mr Collaery to speak on the South African matter, as I am sure he will.
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