EXCLUSION OF MRS FREER

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 23 November 1936, Page 3

EXCLUSION OF MRS FREER

EVIDENCE TO BE RECONSIDEREI MORE INFORMATION SOUGHT CANBERRA, November 19. The Minister for the Interior (Mr T Paterson) and the Attorney-Genera (Mr R. G. Menzies) wore boinbardec with questions on the Freer case in th< House of Representatives to-day. Replying generally to Mr McCall (r Government member) and to Laboui members, Messrs Blackburn. Brennan and Garden. Mr Paterson said eveix investigation was being made int< cveiy fresh development, either in the press or elsewhere. He had every con fidenee that the report on which the Government acted was absolutely cor rect. Moreover, the information on which the Government acted undoubtedly could refer to none other than the woman who was refused admittance, and who was now in New Zealand. Mr Menzies, replying to a Government member. Mr Lane, said he had not so far received a request from Mrs Freer’s counsel in New Zealand for an impartial tribunal to investigate Mrs Freer’s exclusion. Mr Phterson announced that the Cabinet had adopted his recommendation that in future the .exclusion of British subjects should be shouldered by the Cabinet as a. whole, and not by one Minister. The Canberra representative of the Sydney Sun says the Cabinet will reconsider the evidence on which Mrs Freer was excluded as soon Jas additional information, now being sought from the Dominions Office and India, is received. STATEMENT BY MRS FREER AUCKLAND, November 19. “I want a job.” said Mrs Mabie Freer, when interviewed to-day. “I am not a millionaire. I am just an ordinary woman. T have no child here to occupy my time. T think my best move would be to go to Holly wood and have a picture made showing the absurdity of the immigration laws in Australia, with Mr Peterson as the central figure.” Referring to the cable message. Mrs Freer expressed groat concern that her mother-in-law in England had been informed of what had taken place. “She is my dearest possession on earth, and I would do anything for her. My two children are with her. Knowing she has been ill. and is now 76 years of age. I cabled Home asking that she he not informed about the case. Referring to the cablegram in which Mrs Dewar said she would fight every inch of the way for herself and her child, Mrs Freer said that she would take no notice of such a statement. 1 'lt is not a question as to whether I can or cannot marry Lieutenant Dewar.” she said. “That phase of the question is purely domestic, and should have no bearing on the reason for my exclusion. T don’t know for the life of me what is going to come of it all. T wish domestic, affairs could be left out. T could be left free to fight for the honour of my name, which has been blasted under the cloak of parliamentary privilege. “Surely I should bo allow'ed to visit Australia to fight for my name, which is a woman’s most treasured possession. I desire to go to Australia to meet my tradueers in the open, and to vndiAate my honour. I do not want to be mixed up in any more publicity. Reference to the domestic, affairs of the Dewars should have no bearing on my entry into the Commonwealth.” When asked about the second Mrs Freer in India, she became indignant that another woman should have been brought into the affair. “Why should I bring another woman or my husband into the case?” she asked. “I am exceedingly sorry that Lieutenanr Dewar should have mentioned another Mrs Freer. There is no doubt that 1 am the only Mrs Freer in the case.” Mrs Freer said that it was obvious that Mr Dewar, sen., was anxious for the ease to he closed as soon as possible. She received a communication from him yesterday offering to pay her fare to England by any route provided that she did not touch Melbourne. “I replied thanking him for his kind offer, but desired to know if he was also willing to pay for a trip round the world for me,” she said. In conclusion she said that she met Lieutenant Dewar at a dinner at Lahore, to which she was invited by the commander of the garrison. Her final shot was: “I love men who are men, but cowards deserve all that is coming ♦ If