GERMAN WOMAN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1941, Page 6

GERMAN WOMAN

LEAVING DOMINION?

QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the course of his speech on the Imprest Supply debate, Mr. Doidge (National, Tauranga) referred to the case of a woman who, he said, arrived in New Zealand from Germany in 1939. She had not revealed that she was a Jewess or a refugee. Inquiries had been made, and she had been interned. Subsequently, however, she had been released, but the police were not satisfied about her and had endeavoured to secure her reinternment. He understood she was about to leave on a Japanese ship and to return via Japan to Germany. He was prepared to hand all the facts over to the AttorneyGeneral. The question was whether it was safe to allow a woman like that to go back to Germany when she had probably been in a position to obtain information about the country's defences. The Attorney-General, Mr. Mason: You say she knows. Do you know, or is that merely to create alarm? Mr. Doidge: My authority is of the highest. That is my definite answer to the Attorney-General.

Mr. Mason said he thought Mr. Doidge had tried to create a great deal of alarm, and had referred to the case as if the Government had over-ruled the action of the police. Acting on the police file, he had signed the necessary papers for the internment of the woman. The Appeal Tribunal was later set up, and the release of the woman was recommended. She was released, but before she was released one had to consider not merely the actual danger to the country but also mischief-making busybodies who created a great deal of alarm. Consequently he imposed certain conditions—that the woman live away from any possible source of apprehension to the people; that she go to live in a rural district and remain there, where she was in effect interned. Advice had been received that the British Government had made an arrangement with Germany a year ago for the repatriation of certain types, subject to the public interest not being endangered in any particular case. New Zealand had assented to the general principle. This particular case was under consideration, and if repatriation were decided upon certain precautions would be taken.

Mr. Doidge: You do contemplate letting the woman leave the country?

At present, said Mr. Mason, no decision had been made, but the woman came within the general category of the repatriation arrangement. If any decision were made as to her repatriation, they would be required to be satisfied that there was no danger to the public interest. Mr. Doidge: You are confirming what I said.

Mr. Mason: I am explaining the care taken in regard to that woman. She is in effect interned.

Mr. Mason added that it would be more helpful if Mr. Doidge would point out any elements of danger he knew of in connection with the case. No one was taking any chances. He could assure Mr. Doidge on that point.