PRIORITY REFUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26233, 17 August 1946, Page 7

PRIORITY REFUSED

PASSAGE TO AUSTRALIA SOVIET WOMEN DELEGATES SYDNEY, Aug. 16. Soviet delegates to the Australian Women’s Charter Conference, which began in Sydney on Augusrt 4 and ended on August 11, declare that they are held up in London because Britain refuses them transport. In a cablegram sent to the conference the Soviet delegates claimed that the Australian Assistant High Commissioner in England, Mr N. Mighel, prompted the British refusal to provide air transport. The delegation still hopes to travel to Australia, and plans have been made in each State for its reception. The delegates were delayed in Moscow and did not reach London until August 6, when it was discovered that none of them was inoculated against yellow fever. The health regulations provide that this must be done 10 days before departure. On August 11 Australia House was asked to sponsor a request for air priority, but it refused on the grounds that many Australians had already been granted priorities and were waiting passages. The conference chairwoman, Mrs K. Street, has advised the Prime Minister, Mr J. B. Chifley. the Minister of Transport, Mr E. J. Ward, and Dr H. V. Evatt in Paris.