Bankrupt on TV

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 1

Bankrupt on TV

PA Wellington The Minister of Immigration (Mr Gill) was asked in Parliament yesterday to take action to ensure that an undischarged bankrupt, who said on a r ecent television programme that he was going to Canada, did not leave New Zealand. The man. a toolmaker, said on the TV2 programme. “Perspective,” last Friday that he was going to Canada because of bet-t®-r working conditions there. He was put up as an example of New Zealand’s present drain on skilled tradesmen „ interview, seen as .thought-provoking” by he Press” television retraversed the man’s d ,m refinancing a partly built house. lack of r»co-moi 0n - n

Zealand, and the lack of a national pride.] In an urgent question yesterday, Mr M. L. Wellington (Nat., Manurewa) asked Mr Gill whether he knew the man was an undischarged bankrupt, and that his first meeting of creditors would not be until September 6. He asked Mr Gill to ensure that the man. who was not named in Parliament, did not leave New Zealand yet. so that he could answer to his creditors. Mr Gill said that concerned creditors had drawn the facts to his attention immediately after the programme. He believed that the man was married to a Canadian, and that his wife’s parents had offered to pay’ their fn-pc to Canada.

“I have no power under the Immigration Act to stop New’ Zealanders going overseas," he said. However, it was an offence for a bankrupt to leave New Zealand, or to prepare to leave, within three years of being adjudged bankrupt, without the consent of the Official Assignee. Mr Gill said he intended drawing the attention of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Police to the case, so that action could be taken to protect the public. “I am also advised that the TV2 team involved in filming was given details of this case at the time,” he said. “If this is so, then TV2 deserves little credit for a programme which misrep--esented the facts.”