U.K. probe in Jeffs affair

Press, 15 March 1978, Page 1

U.K. probe in Jeffs affair

From JOHN ROSS The Home Off ; ce in London confirmed last evening that it was investigating the entry to Britain of Mr James Jeffs, the former head of the JBL empire. But the New Zealand High Commission in London denied that it had played any part in moves to keep him out of Britain. A Home Office spokesman said Mr Jeffs had been refused leave to enter Britain when he ar-

rived at Heathrow Airport from Auckland on March 7, but was given temporary approval to remain at his home at Henley on Thames until the position had been clarified. Mr Jeffs was released from Mount Eden Prison on March 1, after serving six months jail on conspiracy charges. When he arrived at Heathrow he was questioned by immigration officials, and detained at the airport overnight. He said on Monday that he believed the Prime

Minister (Mr Muldoon) had asked the New Zealand High Commissioner in London to urge the British Government to refuse him entry. The High Commissioner (Sir Douglas Carter) is on holiday in Spain, but a commission spokesman yesterday denied all knowledge of any such approach. The Home Office spokesman said representations had been made by an individual in Britain suggesting that the presence of Mr Jeffs in the

country might be “contrary to the public good.” As a result of that representation, it was now investigating the matter. Mr Jeffs has already appealed to the Court of Appeal in New Zealand against his convictions, and is awaiting the outcome. He said from Henley last evening that he hooed the Home Office would also wait to see whether his convictions were confirmed. "I would be a very disappointed man if I had to

leave the United Kingdom,” he said. Since returning to his wife, and his six children (one of the children is in New Zealand), he had spent his time talking to his solicitors and journalists, making five gallons of wine and 10 gallons of beer, and walking regular! v to keep fit. Once he was able to settle down, he said, he would probably become involved in “family business.” He had no ambitions to involve himself in big business again.