Hubbard supporters push bandwagon on to internet

Facebook pages include Leave Allan Hubbard Alone, while non-Facebook users are being asked to email support. Photo / Supplied

Thousands of people are showing their support for Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard on the internet.

The 82-year-old is being backed by two Facebook pages as well as a bumper sticker campaign which has reached Britain, an email-based group, and special supporter groups.

Facebook's Leave Allan Hubbard Alone has more than 4000 members and Help Allan Hubbard had nearly 700 fans yesterday.

Facebook pictures show Hollywood actor John Wayne as a cowboy on horseback: "When the going gets tough Allan, there's only one man who can sort out these creeps," one of the page's members writes.

Another picture shows a thermometer reading the low political temperature for National in Timaru.

Non-Facebook followers are being asked to email their support to stand.by.hubbard@gmail

Supporters are growing daily and stickers spawned by one of the Facebook campaigns are being distributed by Timaru's Showgrounds Auto Services.

Supporter Rosy Thomas said people not on Facebook can email confidentially. "Please, supporters, pass this on to friends and associates."

In another post, she wrote of Honest Hubbard Supporters.

"Go on a mailing list for updates and for private discussions, strategy, etc," she said.

Lesley Craig of Showgrounds Auto Services said her outlet had quickly distributed an initial 250 bumper stickers with Hubbard's face and a link to Leave Allan Hubbard Alone.

"The second lot was 1000 stickers and most of those are gone," she said. Oamaru signwriter Lance Streeter had paid to have these printed and people throughout New Zealand and in Britain had requested them.

Suzanne Edmonds of Exposing Unacceptable Financial Activities says the Hubbards are innocent and she is regularly posting supportive messages.

"Many people have travelled to Timaru to see Mr and Mrs Hubbard. This is for genuine concern for the Hubbards and with the sake of New Zealand, the country Mr Hubbard has helped build ethically," she wrote on Help Allan Hubbard.

A spokesman for Commerce Minister Simon Power said yesterday Power had "noted the reaction to the appointment of the statutory managers".

The deluge of electronic support expresses parochial sentiment, lashes out at the Government's move against Allan and Jean Hubbard, calls for Serious Fraud Office executives to be run out of town, criticises the Securities Commission's Simon Botherway and posts media articles on the Facebook pages.

A photograph of Hubbard in an armchair with a rug over his knees features prominently on the pages backing the businessman known for carrying a battered briefcase and driving an old VW.

Leave Allan Hubbard Alone has links directly to Prime Minister John Key's email, Power and local National MP Jo Goodhew. Leave Allan Hubbard Alone was established by Rob Clarke of Showgrounds Auto Services and gained 2367 members in its first five days last month.

Loyalty expressed on Facebook remains undented even after the highly critical first report from statutory managers Grant Thornton, released on Tuesday, saying Aorangi Securities investors' money has been frozen.

Tim Clarke, of Russell McVeagh's public law and policy team, confirmed he was acting for the Hubbards and he is expected to try to have their personal funds unfrozen and challenge the process taken to put them into statutory management.

Strong following

* Leave Allan Hubbard Alone: Facebook page with 4055 members, growing daily. Encourages emails directly to Government.

* Help Allan Hubbard: Facebook page with 697 fans.

* Bumper stickers campaign: 1250 stickers printed, most distributed.