Singling out of club denied

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33904, 25 July 1975, Page 3

Singling out of club denied

t.Xcw Zealand’ Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 24. No Government M.P. had asked i the police to investigate the alleged illegal lottery of the Capital Club, the 1 Minister of Police (Mr Connelly) said 1 in Parliament today.

Mr Conenlly was asked by Mr D. S. Thomson (Nat., i Stratford) in an urgent question if he was aware that members of the Wellington 1C.1.8. vice squad investigat- ; ing the affair had told a person they had interviewed that thev would not have been concerned about the event if it had been for intellectually handicapped children, a ; church charity, or some other j cause of that type. However, they had said ; that as the affair had political overtones they were : obliged to take it right to the j end. Mr Thomson asked Mr: ; Connelly to give the House : the precise instructions I issued to the officers, and to ‘ give it an assurance that that i particular incident was not [being singled out. for investi-i gation while others of similar j [kind had not been the sub-: [ ject of an inquiry. “Neither the police admin-1

istration nor myself is aware of any utterances by C. 1.8. members investigating the Capital Club dinner,” Mr Connelly' said. The police had started inquiries on their own initiative when a possible offence was disclosed by the news media. No specific instructions were "given to the investigators bv their senior police officer, other than a direction to carrv out the enquiry. “The police will initiate action regarding any alleged offence when it is brought to their notice, no matter which [ organisation or what persons I are involved. “No Government member j of Parliament communicated; verbally or in writing withj the-police about this issue.! Nor have 1, as Minister of! Police, given any direction to the Commissioner or any other member of the police.”