GOVERNMENT VIEW.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 1

GOVERNMENT VIEW.

Norfolk Island Administrator Supported. CANBERRA, July 18, Considerable interest is being taken by Commonwealth Ministers in the Norfolk Island controversy. Sir Harry Lawson, Minister of Territories, said there were precedents for the Administrator’s action where a British-born subject had been required to pass a dictation test in a foreign language in mandated territories. The Commonwealth Government was convinced that the Administrator acted within his powers. The Government was awaiting his report on the trouble with Mr Macarthur Onslow, but knew sufficient to enable it to say that Captain Pinney was justified in the action he had taken, the Minister said. The Government also had every confidence that he had acted justly and for the benefit of the islanders.

ADMINISTRATOR’S STORY. (Received July 19, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 19. It was explained at Canberra that the deportation of Mr Onslow from Norfolk Island was made under the powers conferred on .the Administrator by the Immigration Restriction Ordinance promulgated in 1922. The ordinance provides for a dictation test. The Administrator, Captain C. R. Pinney, in an interview with the “ Sydney Morning Herald,” said that certain agitators had misled the boatmen concerning the amended control of the lightering of cargo in the roadstead and had endeavoured to foment a general strike.

Mr Onslow said that he did not know of the ordinance until after his interview with the Administrator.