P.M. challenged to name ‘infiltrator’

Press, 16 August 1980, Page 6

P.M. challenged to name ‘infiltrator’

The president of the Labour Party, Mr J. P. Anderton, yesterday challenged the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to name any member of the Socialist Action League who has infiltrated the party. Mr Muldoon said in Parliament on Thursday that he had heard from the Security Intelligence Service that the Labour Party had been infiltrated by members of the league.

Mr Anderton, who was in Christchurch yesterday for the selection of Labour nominations for the Rangiora and Selwyn seats, said Mr Muldoon was again using the S.I.S. as his own private “snooping service” against any political opposition. He bad asked for an explanation from the director of the S.I.S. (Mr P.

L. Molineaux) about the way in which Mr Muldoon used Mr Molineaux and the S.I.S. for blatant political purposes. Depending on the reply, the executive of the Labour Party would consider calling for a public inquiry into the relationship between Mr Muldoon and the S.I.S. Mr Muldoon had said that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) had been briefed on the matter by Mr Molineaux but this briefing had been no more than a letter stating what Mr Muldoon had already alleged. There, might well be evidence that members, of the Socialist Action League members had infiltrated the Labour Party but if so Mr Muldoon should produce evidence. Resides, the league was hardly a major political force.