CONDEMNED MAN’S MOTHER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27690, 21 June 1955, Page 14

CONDEMNED MAN’S MOTHER

Flight To N.Z. To See Son “EVERY CONSIDERATION WILL BE SHOWN” (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, June 20. Every consideration would be shown to Mrs Alice Foster, who is flying to New Zealand to see her son, Frederick, under sentence of death for murder, said the Controller-General of Police (Mr S. T. Barnett) when he was questioned today. “The Foster appeal has not yet been determined,’’ Mr Barnett said. “If it is decided against him the Executive council will have still to determine if the extreme penalty is to be exacted. If the appeal is allowed, Mrs Foster will be treated with every consideration. Assuming that it is not allowed, she will be given the privilege of daily visits to her son until the decision of the Executive Council is made known.” An Auckland message says that the news that Mrs Foster is flying to New Zealand was a complete surprise to Dr. A. M. Finlay, counsel for Foster at. his trial and his appeal against the conviction. The fund for Mrs Foster’s flight may have been organised by the Labour member of Parliament for Birkenhead. Mr Percy Collick. He wrote earlier this month to Dr. Finlay about “the desire of a number of representative prominent constituents in Birkenhead tc organise a reprieve petition to the Governor-General of New Zealand—if this course becomes necessary.’’ Dr. Finlay advised him then that the appeal decision was still pending, and with the position unchanged the people of Birkenhead are believed to have decided that the first consideration should be for Mrs Foster to visV her son. Dr. Finlay said today he would do everything to help Mrs Foster on her arrival. , Superintendent H. Haywood, in charge of the Auckland Prison, saio today that Foster took the news o’ his mother’s visit calmly and seemed very pleased. Superintendent Haywood said that the prison regulations would be extended in Mrs Foster’s case. Ordinarily, prisoners were allowed visitors for half an hour' a week, but much more time would be made available to Mrs Foster, and she would probably be able to visit her son twice a day.

MRS FOSTER TO ARRIVE ON SATURDAY

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. i Salvation Army in New Zealand has been advised that Mrs Alice Foster, who is coming from England to see her son, under sentence of death, will arrive at Auckland by air on Saturday. The Salvation Army has made arrangements to meet Mrs Foster and care for her when she arrives. Commissioner R. A. Hoggard, head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, will be at Auckland when Mrs Foster arrives.