Ex-security man's story

"Auckland students are wrong on many of their allegations about security intelligence," Victoria student Peter Quennell told Salient.

Mr. Quennell, who readily admits that he worked for Security Intelligence for 6, months in 1965, has been! accused by Auckland students of being a Security member while he was Public Relations Officer at Auckland.

"Nothing I ever did had the least connection with any university," Mr. Quennell told Salient.

Auckland student paper Outspoke reveals in its latest issues that Mr. Quennell was recruited by Auckland security man Mr. D. Godfrey.

"Of course, I joined Security." Mr. Quennell said, "but this was after my term as Public Relations Officer. I was not involved at all with Security in Auckland, although I did know an agent, who revealed where he worked after I had known him for a year."

He says he was asked to join the organisation, and he came to Wellington at the start of 1965 to do so. He resigned in June 1965.

He confirmed that he had introduced Miss Martin to Mr. Godfrey (sec other story). "I did so because Mr. Godfrey said he wished to meet her." he explained.

Mr. Quennell rejected insinuations in Outspoke that he had tried to "infiltrate the Victoria hierarchy." He said Outspoke had not checked the stow with him, though he had never been particularly reticent in putting the truth forward. He was offered no chance by Outspoke to reply.

"The rest of my case is covered bv the Official Secrets Act." Mr. Quennell told Salient. "This is all the information I can disclose."