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Student Recruitment to Continue ...

The Security Service has been questioned concerning allegations of Security activity at Victoria University.

The President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association, Mr Gerard Curry, yesterday spent two hours at security headquarters discussing campus activity.

"An officer of the Security Service agreed that graduates or senior students are approached from time to time," Mr Curry said. "This was with a view of recruiting them as career officers of the Service."

"The officer denied that students were induced to become agents for the purpose of spying on fellow students."

"I was informed it is Service policy (strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the Hutchison Commission) that members who attend university are not to report on students or university matters."

Mr. Curry was told that where a member of the Security Service enrols at a University the Vice-Chancellor was always advised of his ties with the Service.

Mr. Curry was refused a guarantee from the Security Service that the university would be outside the scope of the service.

"The officer was adamant that where there was good and proper cause the Service would be duty bound to make enquiries at the university," said Mr. Curry.

"It was further made clear that the Service intends to continue recruiting graduates as career officers in order to maintain an effective organisation."

Mr. Curry said that repugnance to security activity on campus takes two forms. The first is a disbelief that in a country like New Zealand there be any need for such a service at all.

"A large number of students view the Service as an indictment on our open society. For these students even the recruitment of new staff is obnoxious."

"The second is a deep hurt at the thought of student reporting on student in an institution of free enquiry."

"At university ideas and attitudes of individual students are almost invariably going through formative changes. Reporting of the various whims to Security is regarded by all as abhorrent."

"The Security Service informs me that this student-spying-on-student ritual does not occur. I have no evidence to suggest the contrary. In the present controversy the only substantial evidence relates to the attempted recruiting of a student to become a career officer of the Service and to a separate approach to a student to do the specialised work."

"This latter approach as far as I am aware was not directly connected with the university or student activities. No doubt this could be confirmed by the person approached."

"My discussions with Security were at all times polite and frank."