GIRL STOWAWAY

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 8

GIRL STOWAWAY

NO ENTRY TO U.S.A. Claiming to have been horn in Australia, her mother being English and her father Finnish. Leone Hirmukallio, who stowed away on the ship American Legion, baS been refused admission to the United States, writes the New \ ork representative of the Sydney “Sun." Miss Hirmukallio appealed against this decision of the immigration authorities. She stated that she expected to be able to earn sufficient in the United States to pay her passage to Australia. She secretly packed a suitcase in her home in Helsinki. and joined the ship at Petsamo. She declined to divulge how she obtained a bunk number. Miss Hirmukallio deposed that she was born in Gympie, where she claims her aunt, Mrs Loamaranti, is now living. Immigration officials stated that Miss Hirmukallio .yo'uld come under the Austral an immigration quota, but if her appeal failed it was doubtful whether she would be allowed to proceed to Australia. It is admitted that there would be duficulties in the way of rc.M x kiting her to Finland.

Other passengers in the American Legion, which carried Amex Jeans and other refugees from Finland, expressed great interest in her case.