SEQUEL TO NORFOLK ISLAND INCIDENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 11

SEQUEL TO NORFOLK ISLAND INCIDENT

DISCUSSED IN FEDERAL HOUSE. PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS ADMINISTRATION. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 25, 9.45 p.m.) CANBERRA, July 25. Mr Roland Green, an ex-soldier, moved the adjournment of the House of Representatives to-day to discuss the deportation of Mr James MacArthur Onslow from Norfolk Island. Mr Green claimed that Mr Onslow, who had a distinguished war record, had committed no offence on the Island beyond criticising the Administrator (Captain Pinney) for failure to attend a returned soldiers’ gathering. Mr Onslow’s house was broken into in order to ascertain whether he was manufacturing illicit liquor, but nothing to justify the suspicion was found. No charge whatever had been made against him prior to his deportation.

The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) in replying, said that Mr Onslow landed at Norfolk on sufferance. He was a known dipsomaniac, requiring treatment. Mr Lyons expressed sympathy with what he described as a very human weakness. Mr Onslow had allied himself with the disaffected elements and a man suffering from this weakness could create very grave difficulties for the Administrator. During the whole time he was on the Island, Mr Onslow was under surveillance, his stay there depending on his conduct. Although no “moonshine” liquor had been found on his premises, Mr Onslow admitted that he had been brewing, but that it had all been stolen. In all the circumstances public sympathy should go to the Administrator, in whom the Government had the utmost confidence. Consequently there was no reason for a public inquiry. Mr Green's motion was lost.

On July 18, the "Sydney Morning Herald” reported that an extraordinary incident, probably unprecedented in Empire administrative matters, occurred at Norfolk Island last week. Mr J. A. MacArthur Onslow was ordered to leave the island after he had failed to pass the language test in German. Mr Onslow alleged that he had a difference with the Administrator and that there could be no other reason for his deportation. According to friends of Mr Onslow, a definite break occurred on Anzac Day when, it is alleged, the Administrator refused to attend the Anzac Day function, if certain officials of the returned soldiers’ organisation were present. This gave rise to vigorous criticism. According to Mr Onslow, he was ordered to appear before the Administrator. The climax was reached when he was told he would be required to leave the island by the next steamer. The next step was that he was brought before the Customs officer who, incidentally, is secretary to the Administrator and given a language test in German. As he failed to pass the test, an order for his deportation was issued immediately. He sailed by the Morinda the following day. Norfolk Island is British territory within the Commonwealth. Mr Onslow is a son of Major-General J. W. Macarthur Onslow, a member of the Legislative Council, and a descendant of Captain John Macarthur, the founder of the merino wool industry in Australia.