“Spied Only Once”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 3

“Spied Only Once ”

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 3.

Mr D. Godfrey, the Security Intelligence agent at Auckland University, was instructed on only one occasion to make inquiries at the university, according to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

Mr Holyoake gave this information to Parliament today when he was asked by Mr R. J. Tizard (Opp., Pakuranga) if Mr Godfrey had enrolled in the Political Studies Department on the instructions of his superior officers or in the pursuit of his own education. “He did not enroll on instructions from any service, but he was studying with the approval of his superiors,” said Mr Holyoake. “There is no question of spying on New Zealand students. This charge has never been seriously made by a responsible person. “As far as I know he was instructed to secure what information was available on two possibly unfriendly alien students who visited the university. “The two students were officers of the International Student Conference of the World. They were spending some time at Auckland University: this officer was naturally asked by the security service to observe what he could. “He went quite openly to the authorities and told them that he had this task and asked for their co-operation.” Mr Holyoake said Mr Godfrey had trained with MIS and other organisations in Britain. To Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opp., Nelson) Mr Holyoake said the Government did not have full-time security agents

at Auckland University. Mr P. A. Amos (Opp.,ManuMr Tizard: Why did the rewa) asked if Mr Holyoake president of the Students’ As- felt the students’ freedom was sociation find it necessary to being prejudiced.

ring the officer’s superiors and Mr Holyoake: The officer ask them to stop the officer was protecting the freedom from worrying students? of the students.

Mr Holyoake: The officer The Leader, of the Opposidid not trouble students ex- tion (Mr Kirk): That is what cept in this particular case. Ho Chi Minh said, too.