MUST TRAVEL BY AIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26115, 30 March 1946, Page 7

MUST TRAVEL BY AIR

NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS FEDERAL MINISTER’S EDICT CANBERRA, Mar. 29. The Minister of Immigration, Mr A. A. Calwell, stated that no facilities would be provided to enable a party of 12 newspaper proprietors to travel to England to attend the Empire Press Conference unless they gave a guarantee either to travel both ways by air or remain out of Australia for 12 months. No shipping facilities would be provided for their return in preference to the wives and families of Australian servicemen. This decision is similar to that communicated unofficially to the Australian Lawn Tennis Association when the president inquired concerning permits to allow Australian tennis representatives to travel to Wimbledon.

“There is no objection to granting passports to people who have strong business reasons, or compassionate reasons, for leaving. Australia, provided they travel by air and return the same way,’’ said Mr Calwell.

In Melbourne, Sir Keith Murdoch said he had no doubt that Canada’s 17. New Zealand’s 8, and South Africa's 7 delegates, and others from India and the Crowa colonies ■ were all having their paths smoothed by their, respective Governments. “ This is primarily a matter of intelligence and publicity. But Mr Calwell being what he is, I approached the Prime Minister direct about the Australian delegation and was met with courtesy, sympathy, and helpfulness. Mr Chifley has offered to provide each member of the delegation with a personal letter of introduction and assistance. Journalists agree with Mr Calwell on one thing, if in nothing else—the claims of service brides. If he had awakened to them earlier, or had any experience in looking over the Australian fence, let alone going outside it, he would have had them all here long ago.” The delegation will go by air, if necessary. A special meeting of the Australian Lawn Tennis Association is being called to consider the possibility of sending the tennis representatives also by air.