U.S. Financier is refused residence permit – told to leave by next Monday

Salisbury, Wednesday

Mr. L. Ron Hubbard, the American financier recently involved in the purchase of the Bumi Hills Hotel and in a number of other big business deals in Rhodesia, has been refused permission to stay in the country and has until next Monday to leave.

Mr. Hubbard, founder of the controversial Scientology movement, has been told by the Ministry of Immigration that his temporary alien’s residence permit will not be renewed, according to a spokesman for Mr. Hubbard.

The spokesman said the permit would expire next Monday and Mr. Hubbard was expected to leave Rhodesia, probably for Britain, on Friday. His wife, Mary Sue, is not in Rhodesia at the moment.

Mr. Hubbard refused to talk to the press tonight and would make no comment on the situation. A Ministry of Immigration spokesman also refused to comment.

Mr. Hubbard arrived in Rhodesia earlier this year after being told by his doctor to leave Britain following his third attack of pneumonia.

In May, together with two local business men, he bought the Bumi Hills Hotel on Lake Kariba.

He also bought an interest in the holdings of Mr. John Plagis, a local property owner, and a holding company was being formed for them.

In addition, he said he had arranged the purchase of interests in a car sales and was considering financing several factories.

Addressing a Que Que Rotary Club dinner this month, Mr. Hubbard said he was to start a business in Que Que.

CONTROVERSY

Explaining the scientology movement recently, Mr. Hubbard said he had started a foundation in 1950, "to discover the true nature of man, and make the world a better place."

He called scientology the philosophy of knowledge and said it would be used in Rhodesia to improve the ability of executives in his new companies and to better their administrative know-how.

Scientology has aroused considerable controversy in Britain, the United States and other countries.