Drug probe rejected

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 18

Drug probe rejected

PA Wellington The Parliamentary Social Services Select Committee has recommended against an inquiry into the financing and importation of illicit drugs. Its recommendation was made in the committee’s report to Parliament after evidence was presented under oath by Mr Paul Phillips, of the Anchorage Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Hamilton.

Mr Phillips’s evidence was heard by the committee in support of a petition from the Rev. I. A. Clarke and 258 others.

“The committee is not persuaded that a public inquiry into the importation and financing of illicit drugs would be an effective vehicle for combating a problem of increasing dimension,’’ said the committee’s chairman (Mr G. P. A. Downie, Nat., Pakuranga) in his report.

The committee did not believe an inquiry would achieve anything beyond that obtainable by present enforcement measures — “if only because information

which might be provided could, in all likelihood, fall short of the standard required to secure a conviction.” On the other hand, an inquiry would put on guard those who dealt in illicit drugs. “In fact, such an inquiry may well be counterproductive if law-enforce-ment agencies were constrained to divulge their methods of operation. “Moreover, the committee is well aware of the danger of suggesting that a situation be created wherein it would be possible, under the cloak of immunity from legal action, to accuse a person of illegally dealing in drugs without a shred of sustainable evidence.” Mr Downie said the law made ample provision for passing on information about criminal activity and the committee did not intend to recommend another avenue “of a purely transient nature.”

But the committee recommended that the Government take action as a result of evidence suggesting public ser-

vanis were experiencing difficulties in communicating information to the police about dealings in drugs.

“Any difficulty or doubt experienced by public servants arising from the Public Service Regulations, 1964, in communicating information to the police about international or domestic dealing in drugs should be removed?’ Mr Downie said. The committee also recommended that the Government examine ways of increasing manpower and resources within departments responsible for the enforcement of the misuse of drugs act to enable them to carry out their work on a wider basis.

The hearings of the committee were secret, and the committee recommended that all evidence, except that being surrendered to the police, be held by the Clerk of the House. Nobody will be allowed access to it without the permission of the Speaker. The House adopted the report, and it was referred to the Government for “serious consideration.”