Socred denial of report

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 14

Socred denial of report

CV.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 22. The leader of the Social Credit Political League (Mr J. B. O’Brien) has denied saying that the league was being infiltrated by the National and Labour parties. He has also denied saying that he would produce proof of the infiltration charge within 10 days. “Such statements are mischievous and completely false,” he said. Mr O’Brien said that in his speech he commented that “when Social Credit becomes a very definite threat to the institution (of orthodox finance), there would be those within the movement who would be used to destroy the movement from within.” He said that no mention was made of any other political party, since the issue under discussion was an economic matter, not a political one. As for the statement about proof, Mr O’Brien said that his only statement involving the phrase “10 days” was one in which he said “within 10 days, the people of New Zealand and the Social Credit League would see the other seven-eighths of the iceberg relating the Canterbury affair which has been the cause of the current dispute.” Ulis statement did not concern other parties, he said.

But in an official statement issued by the league’s press officer in Wellington, Mr O’Brien said that he would soon have proof that Social Credit’s ranks were being infiltrated by National and Labour supporters.