THE BAN TO STAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23054, 3 December 1936, Page 9

THE BAN TO STAND

ATTITUDE TO MRS FREER FEDERAL CABINET’S DECISION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CANBERRA, Dec. 2. (Received Dec. 2, at 9 p.rn.) The Federal Cabinet has decided not to allow Mrs Freer to enter Australia and will not grant her an independent inquiry. The Attorney-general, Mr R. S Menzies, warned the Cabinet that he did not believe that such an attitude could be supported in the law courts. It is understood that the decision was arrived at in order to save the composite Ministry from disruption.

The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, subsequently made known the Government’s attitude in both Houses of Parliament, where it was received with a few Hear, hears.” Mr Paterson refused to answer further questions in the House of Representatives, and an angry scene followed. Parliament is likely to end its session this week. BOUND FOR SYDNEY MRS FREER ON BOARD AWATEA <Peb United Press Association; AUCKLAND, Dec. 2 Mrs Freer is a passenger for Sydney on the Awatea. This was established to-day when the Auckland Star spoke to the purser (Mr R. Piiani) by radio-telephone. A person-to-person call was put. through to the Awatea for Mrs Freer, but as she declined to come to the telephone a response was accepted from the purser. The Star asked: Is Mrs Freer on board?

Mr Pirani: Yes, she is on board. The Star: Can’t she come to the telephone, please? Mr Pirani: No. She is in her cabin in bed, and the call cannot be put through to her cabin. The Star informed the purser that an important cablegram had been received indicating that the Ministry would not permit Mrs Freer to land in Australia, and that the decision of Mr Paterson would be upheld.

The purser undertook to convey the message and obtain a reply. After about two minutes’ wait he returned, saying, “The only statement Mrs Freer will make is that she will await Cabinet’s decision. She says she has nothing more to say.” The conyersation was crystalclear, the voice of the Awatea’s purser being heard as easily as though he were talking from a telephone in the city.

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING CANBERRA, Dec. 2. (Received Dec. 3, at 1 a.m.) There was some plain speaking in the Cabinet. Mr Paterson haa the backing of his leader, Dr Earle Page, and other Country Party Ministers, who are abl to wreck the Government or withdraw all their Ministers and alternatively insist on a complete reshuffle of the portfolios. A section of the United Australia Party Ministers, including the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) and Mr Menzies, smarting under constant press criticism of the “ Freer blunder,” was hopeful that Mr Paterson would, instead of resigning, find some way “of gracefully climbing down ” Country Party Ministers, however, adopted an uncompromising attitude, rejecting all expedients directed to this end with the result that the United Australia members found it necessary to capitulate in order to avoid the more serious danger whicn threatened. LAWYER DECLINES TO COMMENT (Per United Press Association) ’ AUCKLAND, Dec. 2, Mrs Freer’s lawyer in Auckland, Mr G. P. Findlay, declined to comment on her case in any way to-night or to disclose what further action might be taken in view of the Federal Cabinet’s decision to refuse her admission to Australia. ADVISER’S COMMENT (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 2. A further effort to get in personal touch with Mrs Freer by radio telephone to the Awatea late to-night again failed, but Mr O’Donnell, who is travelling with her as adviser, answered the telephone. Mr O’Donnell said Mrs Freer had not yet officially been advised of the Federal Cabinet’s decision. If the Customs authorities again refused her permission to land at Sydney, the whole position would have to be reconsidered.