‘Teipel case’ hits appeal

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 6

‘Teipel case’ hits appeal

PA Hamilton Adverse public reaction to the Susanne Teipel case forced Rotary callers to drop their organisation’s name from the Hamilton Y.M.C.A.’s telephone appeal this week. The Y.M.C.A.’s director (Mr B. Smith) said that when a number of canvassers felt that their stated affiliation to the Rotary Club was having an adverse effect on giving, they switched to an approach which did not mention the club.

The Y.M.C.A. had hoped to raise $lOO,OOO in the appeal but after telephoning Hamilton residents on Wednesday evening only $30,000 had been pledged.

Mr Smith said it was impossible to say with any degree of certainty how the Teipel case had affected the result. “When callers found that persons were saying they would not give because of the Teipel case, a number dropped the organisation’s name. “However, many used the Rotary approach for all their calls and had no adverse reaction.” Rotary International is

spending 58.8 M this year on its programme giving selected students the chance of a year’s study in another country. Mount Maunganui Rotarians have been told by their president, Mr G. Pierce. “To have schemes such as this jeopardised by one selfwilled and unco-operative student is a little too much,” he said.

Mr Pierce listed some of the conditions that had to be agreed to by potential exchange students before they were accepted for study overseas.

“These conditions are- to safeguard the position of the host clubs, the individual hosts, and indeed the students themselves,” said Mr Pierce. “No parent would agree to let its child go to a strange country unless ■supervision was guaranteed.” “The breaking of some of [these conditions by Miss [Teipel posed a threat to the exchange scheme by undermining parental confidence that the students will suffer no ill while away.”

Miss Teipel could continue her New Zealand holiday — if she can afford $350. She is due to leave New Zealand tomorrow but lastminute investigations by an Auckland lawyer showed that she could almost certainly obtain a six-month visitor’s permit. But to do so she would have to leave the country and apply for the permit on re-entry. A return flight to Sydney costing $350 would mean that she could continue her holiday in New Zealand. Under the existing law (section 14 of the Immigration Act) it is not possible for the holder of a student’s visa to transfer to an ordinary tourist permit. Tourist permits can be issued only to persons who “land” in or “enter” New Zealand.