MRS FREER’S CASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 303, 20 November 1936, Page 2

MRS FREER’S CASE

“L WANT A JOB.”

Pei Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 19.

“1 want a job,”* said' l MrS Mabel Freer, when interviewed to-day*. ‘‘l am not a millionaire’, .but a fnost ordinary woman. 1 have no child here to occupy ihy time. I think niy best move would bo to go to Hollywood and have a picture miide showing the absurdity of the immigration laws of Australia, with Mr Paterson as the central figure.”.-: Referring to the cable, message from Homo, she expressed great concern that her ihotlier-ih-law in England had been informed what had taken place. “She is my deafest possession on earth, and 1 Would do anything for her and my two children. Knowing she was ill and had reached the age of 70, I cabled Honje asking that she bo not informed' about the case. I am devoted to-her and she •to me, She has always been, as a mother to me. Now* I am afraid the wrong version of the case will have been given her, because I’ve lived’ with her and she knows me so thoroughly,-and has always had implicit- faitli in me. She is the dearest, sweetest, and kindest woman on earth, and the world would be better 'if • there were- more of her kind.”

Referring to the cablegram that Mrs Dewar would fight every , inch of the way for herself and the child, Mrs Freer said she yvould take no. notice of such a statement. “It is not a question of whether I. can or cannot marry Lieutenant Dewar. That' phase of the question, is purejy domestic and should- have no bearing on my exclusion. I don’t know lor the life , of me what is going to eonie of it,all. I wish my domestic affairs.; could be left' out and that.l was left free to fight for my honour, and panic, which, have, been blasted under the cloak of Parliamentary privilege. Surely I should be allowed to visit Australia to fight for my name, .which is a woilutn’s- most treasured possession.. I desire -to go to Australia to'meet my trnducCrs in the open to vindicate my honour. 1 do not want to be ‘mixed up in any more publicity. 'The .reference -to the domestic affairs of 'the Dewars should have no bearing on my .-entry. into the Commonwealth.” ' ' - When asked about a second Mrs Freer in India, , she became; indignant that another woman' should have been brought into the affair. .“Why should. I bring another wonian, or liiy husband, into the case? l l, am exceedingly sorry Lieutenant Dewar should have mentioned another Mrs -Freer. .There is no doubt I am the only- .Mrs Freer in the case.”- . . . , . Mrs Freer .said it was obvious Mr Dewar, senr., was anxious for the case to'be closecl as .soon-'as possible. Slichad received a communication from him yesterday offering-to‘pay her fare to England oil any route provided she did not touch Melbourne. “I replied and thanked him for his kind offer, but I desired to' know* if also lie was willing to pay for a trip round the world for me.” .■ . ‘ In conclusion, she said she had met Lieutenant Freer at a dinner at Lahore to which she had been . invited by the Commander of the garrison. Her final shot Was: “I love men w’lio are men, hut cowards deserve all that is'coming .to them,”