MRS FREER’S CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 9

MRS FREER’S CASE.

MAY GO TO AUSTRALIA. OFFICI AL "PERMISSION. > MELBOURNE, Juno 2. The Federal Cabinet to-dav decided to allow Mrs M. M. Freer to come into Australia. The decision followed consideration of a letter from her solicitor, Mr M. Barnett, of Wellington, who urged that the continuation of the prohibition would be unjust. The Sun this evening publishes a radio conversation with Mrs Freer who is reported to have said when asked whether she would return to Australia : “Rather! I shall come almost immediately after my affairs here are settled.” The Sun also published a report from Melbourne that Lieutenant Dewar had received notice of his transference to Western Australia and will leave on. Sunday. He is reported to have said: “I am naturally pleased that Mrs Freer is allowed to enter Australia, but 1 have no idea whether I shall see her.” The ,acting-Prime Minister (Dr. Earl Page) announced that, having regard to all the circumstances, including the fact that Mrs Freer had been a resident in New Zealand for over six months, Cabinet had informed Mr Barnett that no steps would he taken to prevent her landing in Australia. “NO PLANS AT ALL.” MRS FREER HAS NO MALICE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 2. . Official advice was received, to-day by her solicitor, Mr M. 0.- Barnett, that the Commonwealth Government had decided to lift the ban on the entry of Mrs Freer into Australia. On arriving in Australia from India last November Mrs Freer was refused admittance, ■ the reason being that she had failed to pass the dictation test. She landed in Auckland soon afterwards and after a short stay left Wellington for Sydney early in December in an endeavour again to enter the Commonwealth. She was turned back a second time and has remained in Wellington, except for a short experience as assistant in a Wanganui shop. Mr Barnett took up her case with the Australian Government in March. Mrs Freer, who has lately been employed with the stenographers in Mr Barnett’s office, was present when the advice was received this afternoon. “I’m so thrilled. I can’t believe it’s true,” said Mrs Freer. 1 “I want Mr Barnett to have full credit for this triumph. He was so persistent. He believed in the justice of my case and it is marvellous what he has done. Asked what she intended to do in the immediate future, Mrs Freer replied: “I have no plans at all. I’m too excited to think. Of course I am going to Australia. I intend to liye with my aunt in Sydney for a while. After that I don't know what I’ll do. In any event I won’t leave for Australia for two or three weeks.” Mrs Freer said her attitude toward Lieutenant Dewar was just the same. She added that she bore no 'malice against Mr Paterson (Minister of Internal Affairs) or anyone. She wanted now to forgive and forget. It was a great relief and a weight off her mind that the implications against her character were disproved by the decision of the Commonwealth Cabinet. Since her arrival in New- Zealand, Airs Freer continued, she had been received with warm hospitality by many people. If it had not been for the kindness of friends who had shown sympathy toward her she would not have been able to keep on with liei fight to clear her name. ' . Air Barnett said that on taking up Airs Freer’s case his investigations led him to the conclusion that there was no justification for the ban either constitutionally or through allegations cpncerning her character. His first appeal was made early in March. Tt was turned down by the Federal which advised after two months’ deliberations that it was not prepared to review its decision further. He decided to make an appeal to Air Paterson (Minister of the Interior) who replied that the question of the removal of the ban would receive further consideration. Subsequently lie cabled the _ Minister and received confidential advice which led him to believe that there was still hope for a favourable decision. During the six months in which he had been handling the case he had found Airs Freer patient and courageous. He had seen nothing which would justify her being prohibited in any British country. Ho added that Airs Freer was married when 19 in India and was the mother of children. Her husband left her in 1921 and she returned to England with her children, living there with her husband’s people until she returned to India to obtain a divorce in 1936. While awaiting the divorce she met Lieutenant Dewar, who was a passenger in the same vessel to Australia, in October.