APPROACHING A CRISIS

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1936, Page 7

APPROACHING A CRISIS

MRS FREER CASE

WILL BAN BE LIFTED?

MR PATERSON MAY BE FORCED TO RESIGN (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 30. The Freer case is reported to be approaching a crisis. It is expected that an influential section of the Federal Cabinet will attempt to force the hands of the Minister of the Interior, Mr! Paterson, which may lead to his resignation. A report that Lieutenant Dewar is in Wellington cannot be confirmed. Examination of the passenger lists does not disclose his name. The “Sun’s” Canberra correspondent says that if Mrs. Freer returns to Sydney on the Awatea she will be subjected to a fresh . dictation test in a- language she does not understand, Mr. Paterson having given instructions to this effect. He is determined that his ban shall stand. Mrs. Freer’s request for an independent inquiry will come before the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday. A Melbourne message states that a conference of several senior Federal Ministers, including the Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, and the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Menzies, to-day discussed the Freer case, and it is understood, decided to recommend to the full meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday at Canberra the lifting of the ban. Until the full*C,abinet meets, 1 the views of the other Ministers are not known, but it is believed the majority may favour the recommendation.