BARTON AND SON

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 13

BARTON AND SON

Passports withheld < N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) CANBERRA, Feb. 6. The Acting Minister for Immigration (Senator Douglas McClelland) todav withdrew the passports of two millionaire Australian businessmen, Alexander Barton, and his son, Thomas, who are living in Brazil. Senator McClelland said that the Bartons had sought renewals to their passports at the Australian Embassy in Brasilia recently. However, he had instructed the Australian authorities to withhold them and issue instead letters of identification which would be valid only for travel to Australia. Senator McClelland said that Mrs Lilly Barton, wife of Alexander would, how-1 ever, be issued with a new' passport. It is understood that New! South Wales authorities are: keen to have Mr Barton re-i turned to Australia to! answer questions about the' collapse of his multi-million! dollar business empire. The Bartons and their: companies have been the subjects of an exhaustive in-i vestigation by the N.S.W.; Corporate Affairs Commis-i sion. Australia has no for-I mal extradition agreement; with Brazil but Government; sources say that the Austra-I lian Government is working! towards a special reciprocal; arrangement for the Bartons. I