Mr Moyle: ‘only In Court’ (Press, 6 November 1976)

On 6 November 1976, a significant controversy unfolded involving C.J. Moyle, a Labour MP for Mangere, stemming from allegations of his homosexual activities, first expressed by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon in Parliament. Moyle has firmly denied any such engagements, stating he has been happily married for two decades, has three children and a grandchild, with another on the way. He remarked, "I have never been unfaithful to my wife," defending his personal life against the claims made. Moyle expressed his strong desire for the details surrounding the allegations to be made public, but only within a court of law, where he could contest any inaccuracies in the police report regarding his meeting with an undercover officer. He rejected Muldoon's proposal to table the police report in Parliament, deeming Parliament unsuitable for a fair examination of the report's contents. He insisted, "I do not regard Parliament as a court of law," emphasizing his concerns that Parliament would not provide him the opportunity to adequately challenge the report. The Labour MP revealed he had not seen the full report but noted assurances from Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Walton, that no crime had been committed. Moyle warned Muldoon against repeating his statements outside the privileges granted within the House, warning of potential defamation action, while asserting, "I don’t want his money." Throughout the day, the Moyle family received numerous supportive phone calls, including from some government MPs expressing sympathy over the incident. Moyle also highlighted the embarrassment felt by some members of the National Party in light of the situation. Moyle's wife articulated her distress and anger at the allegations, labelling them "ridiculous" and voicing concern about their impact on their children. She added that while their children seemed to be coping on the surface, there were underlying psychological effects that were difficult to evaluate. Moyle acknowledged, "no one can measure the depth of the psychological wound," underscoring the personal toll the public allegations were taking on his family. The incident highlights the tensions and challenges in the political landscape of New Zealand at the time, as personal reputations and public allegations collided within the realm of parliamentary privilege.

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