Before the passing of the Official Information Act 1982, the Official Secrets Act 1951 controlled the release of official information. In 1974 W. B. Sutch, a former head of the Department of Trade and Industry, was accused under the 1951 act of 'obtaining information that would be of use to an enemy'. This photo shows him arriving at the Wellington magistrates court in October 1974, with his wife, Shirley Smith, and his lawyer Mike Bungay (right). Sutch was acquitted of all charges.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference:
EP-1974-6745a-8a-f
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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