TRAVEL PERMITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 50, 27 August 1940, Page 11

TRAVEL PERMITS

VISITS TO ENGLAND

APPLICATIONS REFUSED

"The New Zealand Government is not placing obstacles in the way to prevent people temporarily residing in the Dominion from returning to England," stated the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) in expressing the official view this morning on the very many applications received for permits enabling persons to travel to England. Unfortunately, a large number of the applicants for permits mere, ly stated, he said, that they wished to proceel Home to marry and settle permanently in England or take up work, while some others had stated that their reason for leaving New Zealand was to go upon farms. "No case is lightly considered," added Mr. Parry, "but the difficulty is that applicants do not submit evidence from England that would substantiate the reasons governing their wish to go abroad. Consequently, the applications for permits can only [be declined."

The Minister said many applications for permits had been received from young women who were New Zealanders, wishing to be near their husbands or fiances serving in the English forces, N.Z.E.F., or R.A.F. All those requests had, in accordance with the regulations, to be declined. "However hard it may be to decline permits in these cases," Mr. Parry added, "it is really in the interests of our young women themselves that they should remain in their own land. I feel that this aspect of these cases will be recognisd."