Moyle Report Hits Party (Press, 22 December 1976)

On 22 December 1976, a significant development emerged from a Commission of Inquiry led by Sir Alfred North concerning Mr C. J. Moyle, a senior Labour Party member and former Minister of Agriculture. The inquiry investigated Mr Moyle's statements made to Parliament regarding his conduct during an incident on 17 June 1975 in Wellington, where he interacted with a plain clothes police officer in a manner that raised questions about improper behaviour. The report revealed that Mr Moyle had approached the officer while he was on patrol in an area known for undesirable activities. He asked the officer to get into his car and expressed a desire to go to his home at Oriental Parade. Sir Alfred's findings contradicted Mr Moyle's assertions to Parliament that the police were completely satisfied with his actions, asserting that such a claim could not be justified. The inquiry was prompted by the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, who had claimed discrepancies existed between the information found in the police file and Mr Moyle's parliamentary statements. Sir Alfred detailed the officer's account of the late-night encounter, which involved Mr Moyle's request for the officer to join him in his car. The constable, after identifying himself, warned Mr Moyle about the area's reputation and subsequently reported the incident to his superiors. Mr Moyle then sought a meeting with the head of the Wellington police, where he initially gave an explanation related to discussing homosexuality in preparation for a parliamentary debate. However, upon further questioning by the then Minister of Police, Mr M. A. Connelly, Mr Moyle was asked to clarify whether he wanted the police to investigate his claims regarding meetings with homosexuals. He opted to let the matter rest, admitting his inability to provide substantiating evidence for his initial claims. In his report, Sir Alfred condemned Mr Moyle's statements in Parliament, stating it was impossible for him to label the incident as "a small but wholly innocent incident" or to assert that there had been no criminal intent involved. Mr Moyle's later attempts to distance himself from the initial explanations were perceived as a reaction to the potential implications of being accused of fabricating details to Parliament. The findings deepened the challenges facing the Labour Party, which was still grappling with the aftermath of its electoral defeat in November 1975. Sir Alfred concluded that the incident had become widely known within Parliament, suggesting that Mr Moyle's situation was exacerbated by overlapping testimonies and the nature of confidentiality among police. The report indicated that the only individual with prior knowledge of the police file was Mr Connelly from the previous government, with no improper disclosures to the current administration. Sir Alfred further stated that there was no evidence that Mr Muldoon or other key figures received information from sources other than the police. He acknowledged that the situation had developed due to Mr Moyle's questionable decisions, ultimately discrediting his parliamentary conduct and the rationale behind his statements. The inquiry highlighted the potential for significant political repercussions for Mr Moyle and the Labour Party in the climate of enhanced scrutiny following the incident.

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