Links Between Truth and Nats

There are two questions that need answering. Why did Truth publish the story at all, and why did it publish it in the 24th August edition and not earlier? The first can possibly be answered as above (but only possibly), but the second needs more investigation. Especially looking at the links between Truth and the right wing of the National Party.

Links between Truth and the right wing of the National Party have been long established. Both are obsessively concerned with 'communists' and 'saboteurs and traitors' such as Care and Hart. Truth's strong attacks on the trade union movement have certainly helped the National cause.

But links require more than just similar interests and political lines. Evidence of these links came out in the controversy over the 'Think Tank' affair in August last year. The controversy centred around the Labour MP for Island Bay, Gerald O'Brien. Interestingly, National in July declared, to much surprise, that Island Bay was a marginal seat.

In August, along with the Truth expose, a police job sheet on the Think Tank was 'leaked' from the SIS, a leak that clearly discreditted the Government. On TV2 News August 8th Muldoon said he knew of the job sheet before it was handed to the Prime Minister, and while he hadn't read it, he had been told it was "politically embarrassing". TV2 also reported that it had been informed of the document, before it hit the news, by "two significant National Party men".

It is clear from this case (and the claims of the sacked SIS agent Jays that he was set up) that the SIS, Truth and the National Party had joint access to the information. How else did all three surface at the same time, taking a similar stand?

Muldoon later attacked the Committee to oppose the SIS for '"arranging" a letter linking his Party with the affair, Revealingly, after denials from the police, he refused to repeat this statement outside Parliament.

Such are the links between the Nats and Truth. Sources in the Party tell us that the links are very much alive. Especially over the 24 August issue.

A look at the present situation of the National Party reveals all is far from well. There have been many serious splits in the 55 MPs elected in the 'landslide' last year. Most serious have been the splits over sporting contacts with the South African racists and over abortion. Even over the recent waterfront dispute we understand that Cabinet split the hard line right wing led by Muldoon being defeated by the softer (and more sensible) Gordon faction.

These splits have generally appeared as differences between the right wing and the more liberal sections of the Party. Splits that were obvious at the National Party Conference in Rotorua, where many delegates made no secret of their dislike of Muldoon. And their wish to see Brian Talboys as leader.