Sth African rejected

Press, 27 October 1977, Page 13

Sth African rejected

A South African mechanic who sought a job in New Zealand is unhappy about his meagre prospects of permanent immigration. Mr E. M. Grant, of Cape Town, replied to an advertisement published in his local newspaper in which a Rangiora vehicle dealer called for mechanics. His application was referred to the Labour Department by the firm to obtain immigration clearance, but the department wrote to Mr Grant saying his entry to New Zealand could not be approved. In its letter, the department said: “South Africa is not considered to be a traditional source of migration to this country. Furthermore, we regret to advise that while you have worth-while skills, they are not listed among the few categories which may be approved from a non-traditional source.

“The department’s selection panel has decided that even if you were to submit a formal application, they could not approve your entry into New Zealand,” the letter said. Mr Grant, who still wishes to emigrate to New Zealand, referred the correspohdence to “The Press.” The firm which lodged the advertisement found Mr Grant to be a suitable applicant, but did not check with the Labour Department on immigration restrictions before canvassing the South African labour market. “The mistake has been ours,” said the general manager of Palmer-Ford, Ltd, (Mr I. M. Nugent). “We were unaware of the long-standing arrangements on immigration from South Africa and the list of occupational groups which qualify,” he ••said.

If the company had known of this it would not have advertised in South Africa. The department’s ruling had not been a problem, but it was unfortunate for Mr Grant, said Mr Nugent. “My reaction is that the department is being entirely fair,” he said. “I am happy with the reply I got from the Secretary of Labour explaining the position. It still leaves a very wide market open to us — North America, the whole of western Europe including West Germany, and, of course, Britain. “Anyone living in South Africa on a North American, European or British passport would have been quite all right. “It is just a shame we had not realised what the position was before we advertised,” said Mr Nugent.