Scientologists Held

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 1

Scientologists Held

(N Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 5. The parents of one of the two Scientology students being held in English prisons have not yet heard from their daughter. Mr P. S. Stevens, of Auckland, the father of 18 - year - old Sandra Stevens, said today he had received no word of his daughter and all the information had come to him from the press. Mr Stevens said when he telephoned the British High Commission he was told that anybody who wished to study in Britain was granted free entry. “I was told there was no discrimination against scientologists but evidently someone over there thinks differently.” Mr Stevens said that his daughter and the other student, Mr Bruce Gibson, aged 24, could get out of prison if they ehose to leave England. “But who would pay their fares’” he said. “They went over there to study and if they just turned round and came back it would be a terrible waste of money." A New Zealand Press Association correspondent in London says the prospect of release from prison next Tuesday has been given the two young New Zealanders, who were detained by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport on June 22. They were yesterday given leave by the Queen’s Bench Divisional Court to seek an

order quashing the refusal by the Chief Immigration Officer at the airport. The order they seek would also direct the Chief Immigration Officer to consider their cases afresh. Their application before three judges is to be heard next Tuesday. But should there be any postponement of the hearing the Secretary of State at the Home Office should consider alternative accommodation for them, Lord Justice Parker said today. He said this after he, Lord Justice Sachs and Mr Justice Bridge had heard counsel for the New Zealanders (Mr Peter Pain, Q.C.) voice concern at the fact that Gibson was being held in Brixton Gaol and Miss Stevens in Holjoway Women’s Prison. Mr Pain said that originally several, grounds for the refusal to allow them to enter the' country had been advanced. These had now been abandoned except for one—the Home Office was not satisfied the pair, while taking courses at the Scientology college in East Grinstead, Sus-

sex, would be students rather than employees. Neither Mr Gibson nor Miss Stevens was present during the brief hearing.