NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 10 November 1934, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN

BANNED FROM AUSTRALIA LABOR PARTY PROTESTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The treatment of Mr Gerald Griffin, of Wellington, who was recently refused permission by the Australian customs officials to land in Sydney after he had failed to pass a test in the Dutch language, was considered to-day by the national executive of the New Zealand Labor Party. At the conclusion of the meeting ihe following statement was issued “The action of the Commonwealth authorities in refusing to allow Mr Gerald Griffin to land in Australia .•"s considered, and it was decided that strong representations .be made to the New Zealand Government. “The executive was unanimous in its condemnation or the treatment accorded to Mr Griffin, and will urge the Government to demand an explanation from the Commonwealth Govern-' merit, together with adequate reparation and-compensation for Mr Griffin. The. setting up of an education test in the Dutch language was considered ■"os't unfair, and the refusal to allow New Zealand citizens to land in Ausy ralia on such a pretext is an outrage on the freedom of the individual, and is considered to endanger the good relations which have hitherto existed between the two countries.”