PERMITS TO LEAVE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8300, 19 November 1915, Page 6

PERMITS TO LEAVE.

NEW REGULATIONS IN FORCE

WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. The Minister of Internal Affairs and his officers are finding the new regulations requiring men to secure permits before going abroad is adding materially to their work. There has been a rush- foi'i permits both here,and in Auckland, the majority of. the applications coming, as far as can be judged, from men who have, legitimate reasons for wishing to proceed to some other part of the world at present. An officer, of the department has; been sent to Auckland to deal with applications that have been received there from nien who wish to take tho next steamer for America.

.Some of the men who have applied for permits will, not get them. They are unable to show that they have reasons of a proper kind for' wishing to travel at a. time when the Empire is calling for men able to assist in defence.

A few Wellington applicants have secured forms and then failed to return them, probably because they realised they had no chance of' 'answering the questions in a manner satisfactory to the department. Their verbal answers havo "not been convincing, and tliu officers feel justified in assuming that some of these applicants represent the class for whose benefit tho regulations wore drafted. They want to get out of New Zealand because they fear they may be called upon to fight in defence of the-liberties and privileges they enjoyed as citizens of the Empire.

The Internal Affairs Department is endeavouring -to arrange its work in such a way as to cause no inconvenience to men entitled to travel for business or other purposes.

Some scores of men havo applied in Wellington for permits -to proceed to Australia by the Sydney boat to-mor-row. Special efforts are being made to meet these cases. Most of them received forms to-day, and it is expected that all those who arc entitled to permits will receive them in time to avoid disappointment. No man who has not got a permit will be fible to leave Wellington on the steamer.

" Applications arc pouring in from all over the country," said Mr Russell to-night, in reply to a question. "Some men have written and others have telegraphed. We am trying to deal with the applications promptly, in order that no man may be delayed unnecessarily, hut intending travellers should realise the importance of putting in their applications in good time. Every case has to be inquired into in order that the intention of the regulation m-,\j bo. given effect, nnd the necessary investigations take time."