The Security Intelligence Organisation now officially exists, as the old-styled Secret Service, Gilbert's Goons or the Brigadier's Buffers never did. Yes, just as the Australians got their ASIO in 1956 and the Philippines got their Anti-Subversion laws in 1954, now we have our own NZS10. Part of New Zealand's price for the American alliance, for our involvement in ANZUS and SEATO.

Eager Beaver Gilbert, the Brigadier they nicknamed "Soapy" during the war, was dredged up in 1956 to re-organise the SS when the Americans insisted we tighten up our "security".

The 1969 re-organisation of the SS was prompted by four factors: first, suspicious moves by the Ombudsman Sir Guy Powles, which indicated that he might try to investigate the legality of some SS actions. Secondly, the disclosure in Cock magazine of a list of SS operatives. Thirdly, suggestions by the Labour Party that they might initiate moves to institutionalise the SS, the fourthly, the rumpus caused by Roger Boshier at the Labour Party conference early in the year.