N.Z. Singer May Be Expelled

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 3

N.Z. Singer May Be Expelled

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press”) LONDON, May 5. The New Zealand pop singer, Johnny Devlin, is still required to leave the country” by tomorrow because his work permit has expired, a Home Office spokesman confirmed today.

Devlin would not be allowed to remain in Britain even if he did not work after the deadline date, the spokesman said.

Devlin, married with two children, arrived in Britain in November, 1965, and immediately obtained a work permit. Since then he has had two extensions, the last granted on February 6 for three months. The Home Office spokesman would not comment on various representations which have been made on behalf of Devlin for a further extension and which have not yet received any final reply. All indications are that Devlin may be the first New Zealand citizen expelled under the new immigration laws In the United Kingdom. There is no suggestion that he has offended against any other laws or any accepted code of behaviour.

Indeed, many of his friends maintain that Devlin’s mistake has been too much honesty—he would not have been under such close scrutiny if he had not been honest enough to apply for a work permit upon his arrival.

Many other Australians and New Zealanders are said to be “lying low” without such permits and are working here quite happily. “You just wouldn’t believe that this could happen to a

“This just could not have happened at a worse time—when everything could be happening here for me.”

If Devlin fails to get his reprieve, his Australian wife, Carol, who is modelling in London—the order apparently does not affect her—will stay on while Devlin returns to Sydney. Devlin said he could tour Australia and New Zealand in June and July and hope that an application for a work permit would be successful so that he could return to Britain with the blessing of the Home Office.