Mr Couch defended

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 6

Mr Couch defended

PA Wellington The visiting League of Rights speaker, Mr Eric Butler, said yesterday that he fjnds- some of the charges made against the Minister of Police (Mr Couch), who attended one of his meetings at the week-end, “quite incredible.”

ts the hat passed, Mr Couch simply slipped something in. It was not a special donation to me personally—that money goes to the League of Rights.” Mr Butler said he believed that on the question of religion, although he and Mr Couch might differ theologi-

“Some of the charges which have.. been made .against him are almost childish,” Mr Butler said," speaking from Marlborough, where he addressed a meeting last evening. “I have always understood New Zealand is a civilised, free country, where .anyone can go to a meeting and sit and listen.

“In any case, in a vote of thanks, Mr Couch pointed out there were some matters he would disagree with me on, > “He didn’t say what, but I was covering • a wide field, and some of my comments were critical of his Government’s policies. "One thing I do think is terribly unfair and dishonest is a newspaper report that Mr Couch donated money to me.

“He did not donate money to me. He found himself in a meeting where at the end the hat was passed round, after it had been said that dona-

tions to the League of Rights cally, they would agree on were welcome. basic principles and' ques-

tions. He said he had not known that Mr Couch would be at the meetng, but said that “occasionally politicians come along,” although no other politician had attended a meeting on this tour. Earlier report, p 3.