PASSPORT ADJUSTMENT.

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1920, Page 4

PASSPORT ADJUSTMENT.

ON YUGOSLAVS' BEHALF,

AUCKLAND, June 3,

The Yugoslavs in New Zealand, many of whom have long been anxious to return to Europe, have hitherto been under the necessity of obtaining passports from Britain, and they have been seeking a more speedy method for some time past. A solution of the difficulty has now been found which, so far as the Yugoslavs in Auckland are concerned, is satisfactory. Mr M. A. Ferri, who has been the intermediary in the matter between tho foreigners and the New Zealand Government, has received a communication from tho Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, stating that tho matter had been referred by him to the Minister for Internal Affairs, who had replied in the following terms: —

"The matter was brought under the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was asked whether he had any objection to those men proceeding to Great Britain, where they could get in touch with their consular representative. A reply was- recently received stating that the Government was being asked to expedite the appointment of Yugoslav Consular representatives in oversea Dominions, and that in the meantime no objection would be raised —in cases where the Now Zealand Government thinks repatriation urgently desirable—to the persons in question travelling via the United Kingdom, provided that they receive from the New Zealand Government some form particulars about each individual, that they are in possession of sufficient funds for the purpose, and that it is distinctly understood that if such persons do not satisfy the Yugoslav authorities on arrival in Great Britain they have to return to New Zealand at their own ex-

pense.'' Mr Fcrri states that a great number of tho Yugoslavs in Auckland and district will take advantage of the now procedure. Many of them only desire to revisit their homes and intend to return to New Zealand with their families and settle here subsequently.