Govt Investigating Scientology

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 1

Govt Investigating Scientology

(New Zealand Frees Association)

WELLINGTON, September 2. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said today that the Government had started an informal inquiry into the practice of Scientology in New Zealand.

He was commenting on a call by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) for a full inquiry into the cult. “We have not discussed it at the Cabinet table from the point of view of holding an inquiry, but I have discussed it with the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan),” Mr Holyoake said. “I haven’t yet received any report from him or any indication as to any possible line of action,” he said. The Prime Minister said that he was not pressing Mr Hanan for a report, but was waiting until Mr Hanan raised the subject with him again. Asked if it was likely that New Zealand would ban Scientology, the Prime Minister replied: “I don’t know.” The Parliamentary Petitions Committee has before it a petition calling for an inquiry into scientology in New Zealand. But it has also before it a counter-peti. tion from scientologists, calling for an inquiry into the practice of psychiatry. Discussing scientology in Hamilton today, Mr Kirk said:

“I don’t like it. I will have nothing to do with it and will do nothing to encourage it. Given half a chance I would do everything I could to discourage it.” A ban on scientology had been suggested, Mr Kirk said, but he was hesitant to ban anything connected with human freedom.