CHAPLAIN’S APPEAL

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29844, 9 June 1962, Page 10

CHAPLAIN’S APPEAL

Deportation Of Gorman (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. June 8. A chaplain who today declined to be named wiil appeal to the AttorneyGeneral (Mr Hanani on Monday to % allow the escaped British convict Henry Gorman to remain in New Zealand. He may also see the acting Minister of Immigration (Mr Sea th) and ask him to recommend the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy to the Governor-General. This would over-ride the deportation order which the Minister of Immigration would sign.

Gorman, who was recaptured after escaping from a police party on Wednesday evening, is now in Mount Crawford prison. The chaplain will suggest to the Ministers that the chances of rehabilitating Gorman in New Zealand would be greater than in Britain where he escaped from a Gloucester prison work party in 1957.

He said that, according to legal advice, Gorman had no further redress against deportation since he entered the Dominion as a prohibited immigrant.

Gorman pleaded guilty and was convicted of this offence on Wednesday in Wellington. The chaplain said that he was now seeking the woman Gorman married after arriving in New Zealand. She was thought to be in Wellington.

Yesterday. Gorman was discharged after being convicted of escaping from custody but, though his deportation would thus be unimpeded, the police are believed to be having some difficulty in finding an airline or shipping line prepared to return him to Britain.