OFFER BY MAYOR.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20906, 13 July 1933, Page 8

OFFER BY MAYOR.

PAYMENT OF PASSAGE TO RUSSIA. LOWER HUTT COMMUNISTS. (*a«»s i»soci.vjios WELLINGTON, July 12. A public statement made by the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr J. W. Andrews, that he had offered to arrange the passage to Bussia of any Communist in the district who desired to go there, was denied re? gently by a resident of Lower Hutt. Mr Andrews paid to-day that he had written to the person concerned offering to meet the cost of the passage to Russia for him. his wife > and his three children. "After my election, and before I had been instiled as Mayor, I received a deputation of three wellknown Communists," said Mr Andrews. "X promised to investigate the three cases of distress which they placed before me, and appealed to the speakers to allow pie an opportunity to organise some practical assistance for relief workers and their families. "On condition that they undertook to cease their agitating, I undertook to find food and clothing for §ll the distressed cases. They declined my offer. J then asHetf one of them if he knew of any other country he liked better than New Zealand, and if so I would arrange transport for him, but my offer was received in silence.

"Later he announced that he would agree to go to Ryssia if I would pav the cost of the passage for himself, his wife, and his tljreg children, I have accepted the increased liability, and have asked him if he will be ready to leave by the Makura on July 25."