Mr Gill adamant on expelling millionaire

Press, 1 November 1977, Page 7

Mr Gill adamant on expelling millionaire

PA Auckland The Minister of Immigration (Mr Gill) is standing by his decision to expel a Belgian millionaire who has settled in Northland, Mr Gill said that Mr Victor Waroquier did not satisfy New Zealand immigration criteria and had been ordered to leave. The fact that Mr Waroquier claimed to be worth S3M, and had invested 530.000 in a Bay of Islands timber company, had no bearing on his 'request for permanent residency, said the Minister. Mr Gill said: “You cannot buy your way into New Zealand.’

“Our policy provides for people who have certain skills which this man does not have. He does not fit into our policy in any way whatsoever.” Mr Waroquier and his travelling companion, Miss Prisca Poirier, have been told by Mr Gill they can stay until March, giving them time to prepare their yacht and avoid the hurricane season, but Mr Waroquier said the extra time was no solution.

He intended to sell up and sail by November 15. Arrangements are being made to wind up the timber companies and an auction of machinery and plant will be held.

The couple arrived in the Bay of Islands on a 22-metre yacht on October 31, 1976, on a 12-month visitor peri mit. They were so impressed with New Zealand they decided to stay, tilling out immigration forms in March. “Everybody told us we would qualify as permanent

residents without any trouble,” Mr Waroquier said.

So he invested $30,000 in a Bay of Islands timber company, and was planning to put in another $30,000 to help the firm expand when he learnt in early September that his application for residency had been declined.

"We were amazed,” Mr Waroquier said. “We were already putting so much in to the country. Yet other people probably not as useful were being allowed in.” An appeal was filed, supported by an Auckland businessman and Mr D. D. Currie, managing director of Whangae Pines, 1974, Ltd, and the Whangae Timber Company, Ltd. The member of Parliament for Hobson (Mr H. N. Austin) also made representations. pointing out that the forest companies would have to close without Mr Waroquier’s backing. But, after meeting Mr Gill on September 29, the couple learnt their appeal had been declined, and that they would have to leave New Zealand by October 31. Interpreting at times for Mr Waroquier, Miss Poirier, a 30-year-old Parisienne, said he was almost four years over the maximum age of 45 — apparently set to ensure immigrants did not become a burden on society near retirement age. “The fact that we had all the money needed to look after ourselves just did not seem to count,” she said. “They also said Victor had no job skills or qualifications.

Yet he owned a lime kiln factory near Mons, a highrise building firm, a realty and land development com-

pany, forests in France and Belgium as well as Other j interests, including insur- 1 ance, all of which were j being managed on his behalf’ Mr Waroquier said he had’ started at 21 with no money? merely family land with li-| mestone deposits. He had; developed that resource. I building a quarry and fac- i tory to produce 5iX) tonnes ai cay, and diversifying into I other businesses. At 28 he became a mil-1 lionaire, and that fortune I has since trebled, even] though he retired from ac-! tive control at the age of 43. Those assets provide Mrj W’aroquier with pocket money of about $2OOO a month, as well as $30,000 a' year for his wife in Belgium. |

Miss Poirier said Mr Gill has also referred to their marital status. But she explained that, under Belgium’s Roman Catholic laws, Mr W’aroquier could not obtain a divorce.

Mr Waroquier, who has built a house overlooking the Kawakawa Inlet near Gpua on Whangae Pines land, said he would have though! his overseas earnings would have helped New: Zealand’s balance of pay* ments.

"Besides,” he said, “when you live in a country, that is where you invest. We were going to put most of our money here. “But Mr Gill told us he had thousands of people with hundreds of thousands of dollars wanting to come to New Zealand, and, as far as he was concerned, the country did not want their money. “So is it any wonder New Zealand has economic problems?”