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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 14. 1966.

Exec condemns smear attempt

Exec condemns smear attempt

The V.U.W.S.A. executive has condemned a Senior National Party official for attempting to obtain information from Security Intelligence for political use.

The executive has also condemned the actions of the Prime Minister's private secretary in assisting the attempt.

Following the events of a special general meeting of the university National Club on Thursday, 22nd September, members of the club committee contacted the Divisional headquarters of the National Party.

At the general meeting, in an election whose validity the club is disputing, Mr Roger Boshier was elected club vicepresident. Mr Boshier is an active campaign er for the withdrawal of New Zealand troops from Vietnam.

At about 3 p.m. on Friday, 23rd September 1966, Mr W. Logan and Mr T. Hardy, committee members of the club, visited the National Party headquarters.

They notified Mr John Macpherson, a National Party area organiser, of the events at the meeting.

Mr Macpherson said that Mr R. J. Laurenson (who is a senior officer of the National Party) would be interested in the incident, and said that Mr Laurenson would have information about Mr Boshier.

He expressed the general view that the club should be aware of Mr Boshier's background.

However, Mr Laurenson was not at his office in the National Party headquarters at that time.

On Monday, 26th September 1966, at about 11.15 a.m., Mr Logan and Mr Hardy again visited Mr Macpherson at his office. After waiting for about twenty minutes they were introduced to Mr Laurenson.

Mr Laurenson said he had heard that Mr Boshier had taken over. He then made a telephone call.

Supplied by college

Pm's Office

The phone call was to Mr P. A. Barnes, who is principal private secretary to the Prime Minister. He asked Mr Barnes whether he could be put in touch with Security to discuss Mr Boshier.

Mr Barnes refused to put Mr Laurenson in touch with Security, told him that he would contact Security himself, and arranged to ring Mr Laurenson back.

Mr Logan and Mr Hardy then arranged to return at about 3 p.m. and left Mr Laurenson's office.

Meanwhile Mr Barnes contacted Security Intelligence and was told that Security only had the known information on Mr Boshier (the Vietnam Committee).

Cont. Inside...

note signed by Salient editor and VUWSA president

This matter has been the subject of the most careful investigation by the Students Association, and every effort has been made to check the facts set out in the statement furnished to us. Anything that was in any way doubtful has been omitted and as a result of personal investigation we are satisfied that the contents of this issue of SALIENT are correct.