NOT ALLOWED TO LAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19953, 10 November 1934, Page 22

NOT ALLOWED TO LAND

THE GRIFFIN CASE By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, November 9. The treatment accorded 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 today by the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party. At the

conclusion of the meeting the following statement was issued:— “The action of the Commonwealth authorities in refusing to allow Gerald Griffin to land in Australia was considered. and it was decided that strong representations be made to the New Zealand Government. The executive was unanimous in its condemnation of the treatment accorded to Griffin, and will urge the Government to demand an explanation from the Commonwealth Government together with adequate reparation and compensation for Griffin. The setting up of an education test in the Dutch language was considered most unfair, and the refusal to allow a New Zealand citizen to land in Australia on such a pretext is an outrage on the freedom of the individual. and is calculated to endanger the good relations which have hitherto existed between the two countries.”