No. 5

159

SUPPLEMENT
TO THE

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
OF

THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 1969
Published by Authority

WELLINGTON: MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1969

Commission of Inquiry Into Scientology

ARTHUR PORRITT, Governor-General

ORDER IN COUNCIL

To all unto whom these presents shall come, and to:

SIR GUY RICHARDSON POWLES, K.B.E., C.M.G., E.D., the Ombudsman; and

ERIC VERNON DUMBLETON, Retired Newspaper Editor:

GREETING

It is considered expedient that inquiry should be made into the working of existing law and the necessity or expediency of any legislation in respect of certain activities, methods, and practices of the Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand or any associated Scientology organisations or bodies in New Zealand:

Now, therefore, pursuant to the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908, I, Sir Arthur Espie Porr'itt, Baronet, the Governor-General of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, hereby appoint you, the said Sir Guy Richardson Powles and Eric Vernon Dumbleton, to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon:

(1) The working of existing law and the necessity or expediency of any legislation in respect of the activities, methods, and practices of the Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand or any associated Scientology organisations or bodies in New Zealand in so far as those activities, methods, and practices may—

(a) Cause or contribute to estrangements in family relationships;

(b) Affect the custody or control of children and persons under the age of 21 years;

(c) Result in persons who have severed their connection with Scientology or any Scientology organisation or body, or any other persons, being subjected to improper or unreasonable pressures of any kind by Scientologists or any Scientology organisation or body.

(2) Such other matters as may be brought to the notice of the Commission or initiated by it which the Commission considers relevant to its functions as defined in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of clause (1) hereof:

Provided that the foregoing terms of reference shall not extend to or include any inquiry into the philosophy, teachings, or beliefs of Scientology or Scientologists except in so far as those matters may in the opinion of the Commission be necessary to facilitate its inquiry into the matters referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of clause (1) and clause (2) hereof.

And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you, the said Sir Guy Richardson Powles, to be Chairman of the said Commission:

And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorised and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents, in accordance with the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908, at such times and places as you consider expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and place to place as you think fit, and so that these presents shall continue in force and the inquiry may at any time and place be resumed although not regularly adjourned from time to time or place to place:

And you are hereby strictly charged and directed that you shall not at any time publish or otherwise disclose, except to me in pursuance of these presents or by my direction, the contents or purport of any report so made or to be made by you or any evidence or information obtained by you in exercise of the powers conferred upon you except such evidence or information as is received in the course of a sitting open to the public:

And it is hereby declared that you have liberty to report your proceedings and recommendations under this Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient so to do.

And, using all due diligence, you are required to report to me in writing under your hands not later than the 30th day of April 1969 your findings and opinions on the matter aforesaid, together with such recommendations as you think fit to make in respect thereof.

Given in Executive Council under the hand of His Excellency the Governor-General this 3rd day of February 1969.

P. J. BROOKS, Clerk of the Executive Council.

BY AUTHORITY: A. R. SHEARER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND—1969

Price 5c