REPLY MADE TO MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 23047, 14 November 1936, Page 7

REPLY MADE TO MINISTER

Mrs Freer’s Defence __ z STATEMENT ON LIFE IN INDIA (United Press Association.) Auckland, November 13. “It is no longer a question of whether I am able to marry Lieutenant Dewar or not. That is a question that can be fought out or settled in the ordinary way,” said Mrs M. H. Freer when interviewed regarding Mrs Dewar’s statement that she would not be driven into accepting a divorce. “The point at issue is my own personal honour and the retraction of untrue statements made about me by a Minister.” Mrs Freer said that it appeared that Mr Paterson, the Minister for the Interior- in the Federal Government, had acted more upon the statements of Mrs Dewar than anything else. “I lived in India, off and on, with my husband until I left to go to England with my two children.” She said in speaking of the Minister’s references to her reputation in India: “I stayed there until the end of 1935. I then went back to India and it was not until February of this year that I met Lieutenant Dewar at Lahore. As I had always led a model life in India and had very many social friends there, I am quite at a loss to understand the unfounded allegations of the Minister about my character.” AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE UNCHANGED MRS FREER DEFINITELY EXCLUDED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.0 p.m.) Canberra, Nov. 13. The Minister for the Interior (Mr T. Paterson) stated today that if Mrs Freei’ returned to Australia the Government would still prevent her landing. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) also stated that there was no change in the Government’s attitude to Mrs Freer. MRS DEWAR TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS NO INTENTION OF ACCEPTING DIVORCE. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Melbourne, November 13. The Melbourne correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that Mrs Dewar, wife of Lieutenant Dewar, in announcing that she has no intention of making the way easy for Mrs Freer to return to Australia, stated: “I am not going to give up without a fight or be driven into the position of accepting a divorce. I have my child and my future to think of.” WHITEHALL ASKS REPORT ON CASE. London, November 12. It is learned authoritatively that the Secretary for the Dominions (Mr Malcolm MacDonald) has cabled to , Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, British High Commissioner in Australia, for a report on Mrs Freer’s case.