LYONS’S DEPARTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 18 July 1925, Page 7

LYONS’S DEPARTURE

AN “EXPLANATION” (Units'-’ Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The following statement about the departure of Lyons was handed to the Press to-night by Air W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, and Air P. Fraser. ALP.: “As the published report concerning the decision of Noel Lyons to agree to leave the Dominion voluntarily and his subsequent release aboard the s.s. Moeraki this forenoon, is likely to cause a wrong impression, it. is only fair to Lyons that the facts should be stated., Lyons is represented as having himself initiated negotiations for his release because he had got tired of gaol. That statement is not correct. The first step towards Lyons's release was taken by several of his personal friends. Those friends, after mature consideration of all the facts of the situation, came, to the conclusion that no further good purpose could be served by Lyons remaining in gaol, and that it. would he foolish for him to servo nine, months’ imprisonment if his liberty could be obtained on the terms previously laid down by the Government ♦through the Attorney-General, namely, that- he would agree to leave New Zealand. His friends interviewed Lyons at the Terrace Gaol and advised him on the Poes indicated. After discussing the position from every angle Lyons at last decided that as lie had made as effective a protest against an unjust law as one man single-handed could have made and had directed attention to that unjust law’s operation, and further, as thus his purpose was practically achieved, lie would agree to leave the country. The decision was then conveyed to the authorities, who acted as promptly and considerately as possible in making the necessary arrangements, and in consequence Lyons was liberated on board the Moeraki this afternoon.” SYDNEY, This Day. The Trades and Labour Council decided to distribute literature in protest against the treatment meted out by the New Zealand authorities to Noel Lvons.