No Permit To Stay In Fiji To Start Pottery

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 11

No Permit To Stay In Fiji To Start Pottery

New Zealand Press Association) '

SUVA, January 27

Two young Americans, Mr and Mrs Fred Stubner, who came to Fiji four months ago from Seattle, became so interested in the prospect of developing Fijian pottery that they planned a permanent kiln, pottery classes, and a marketing organisation Now they have been ordered to leave the colony They came on the customary four-months’ permit granted to visitors. When they applied for an extension to enable them to proceed with their plans, the principal immigration officer. Senior Superintendent E H Mulligan of the Fiji Police, refused it and told them they must leave by February 3 H«> declined to give any reason for his action

The head of . the Fijian province of Nadroga end Navosa. Ratu Kavaia Tagivetaua, with whom the Stubners have been staying, wrote to Superintendent Mulligan in support of their application “They are the only persons with the skill for this highly promising industry,” he said Mr Kenneth Payne, a Suva commercial artist and screen printer, wrote: "Their work will greatly assist In the production of saleable pottery for the tourist *adustry

' 1 know of no local people who would be able to do this work in the same way fc Mr and Mrs Stubner.”

In reply to the Stubner's application to remain longer than four months, Superintendant Mulligan wrote: "Your case has received careful consideration but I regret the applications are not approved ” The Stubners have applied foi berths in the Orsova which will leave Suva for Auckland on February 3