Ray Charles to be allowed into N.Z.

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33958, 26 September 1975, Page 3

Ray Charles to be allowed into N.Z.

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 25

The Minister of Immigration (Mr Colman) today approved a visit to New Zealand by the black American singer, Ray Charles, and 27 members of his party. Mr Colman said a number of important factors had had to be considered before permission for the singer to enter the country 7 was granted. Mr Colman said that after a conviction some 18 years ago for drug offences, Charles had actively campaigned, in the United States and elsewhere, against the evils of narcotics.

“My inquiries with the national police headquarters indicate there is no strong reason why entry to New 7 Zealand should be refused for the very limited period of about one day, in view of the lapse of time from the last conviction and in the absence of any information or evidence of continuing involvement in the drug scene.”

Mr Colman said he wished to emphasise that the Government took a very serious view of drug offences, and would cbntinue to exclude people whose presence was likely to he harmful or have an adverse effect on the interests of New Zealanders.

“Each application will continue to be judged on its merits," he said.

The provisions of the Immigration Act under which Charles was initially 7 prohibited front entering New Zealand were being reviewed, Mr Colman said.

It is believed that the initial decision , to reject the American' pianistsinger was made by the Immigration Department, which subsequently told the Minister of it. A spokesman for the department said he was not at liberty to tell about the general procedures followed in cases such as that involving Charles, because that could permit people to find ways of avoiding them.

But a check was made of the background of people, and if it was against the policy of the

government of the day to accept them, a decision would be made accordingly. The spokesman said that under existing law anyone who had been convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year or more could not be permitted entry 7 . It did not matter whether the offence had been committed 30 or even 50 vears ago. He said the statute did not specifically mention drug offences as a criterion for rejection, and did not set out anv types of offence which would result in an automatic refusal of permission to enter the country. Officials in Mr Colman's office said the Minister received more than 2000 letters a year, asking him to exercise his discretionary powers to permit the entry into New Zealand of people who did not qualify 7 under the law.