Background.

On 20 January of this year I was arrested on my way home from work on a naval warrant from Auckland. My arrest was a surprise to say the least. I had left HMS Llandaff some two and a half years earlier and was just beginning to relax.

It is coincidental that a flat I had been visiting a week or so earlier was busted. No arrests were made, but names were taken as a matter of routine.

It has been a matter of some conjecture, therefore, whether the drug squad, working on the assumption that there is a natural association between suspected drug users and criminal types cross referred the names at the Police station. I was assured that there was no connection and I believe the squad later went to great lengths to assure others.

After spending a night in Wellington Central during which I contacted a friend, who in turn contacted the VUW Students Association and started the ball rolling at that end, I was handed over to the NZ Naval Authorities and sent to Auckland and HMS Philomel.

At first, my treatment in Auckland was very liberal. No doubt I was something of a novelty. A navy 'deserter' (such an emotive word) with shoulder length hair, beads, and sandals was an object of some interest.

However, after a few days with numerous people trying to get in touch with me. Press queries, radio broadcasts, and student consultations with British High Commission, the NZ Navy became a little more restrictive. I no longer took my meals in the dining room, writing materials were only issued for writing a letter, and all outside information concerning me was kept shrouded by mystery. Only 3 of the people who tried to visit me, were able to do so: a lawyer and 2 friends during my stay.

On 29 January a friend visited. He was optimistic about the chances of my staying in the country (despite a threat by a senior officer of the vice squad to lodge objections to my staying made privately at Wellington Central) but wanted to know when I was scheduled to be flown out.

I had heard earlier it was to be either the 7th or the 9th or the 10th of Feb. on a service aircraft. The Senior rating present confirmed this, in the presence of a friend. At 9a.m. on 1 Feb. at 2½ hours notice I was quietly flown out under escort to Singapore. So much for trusting the spoken word of the NZ Navy.

In Singapore I was handed over to the British Navy and held in the navy base.

My material treatment in the navy base was considerate and respectful. Personal sympathy was with me but, it was explained, justice would have to be done.

It was 10 days before I was finally sentenced. The deliberation over my case was considerably longer than the usual cut and dried offences. I was finally sentenced to 42 days detention and to be discharged from the navy, and charged the airfare from NZ to Singapore ($325).

My sentence was backdated for reasons which were not explained, by 12 days. With 14 [unclear: fif] days remission it ended on 2 March.

I believe the efforts of concerned students and others both inside and outside the university, and the general controversy that was created was instrumental in such leniency.

Military authorities are invariably sensitive to adverse publicity, and this issue was fast becoming political. The recruiting figures must be protected. During a conversation with an officer I was actually told there was no chance of my losing my remission.