“NO COMPLICITY.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 11

“NO COMPLICITY.”

N.Z. Police and Case of P. Griffin. STATEMENT BY MR COBBE. (“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. November 7. No request was made by the New Zealand authorities for the return of P. Griffin, who, arriving in Sydney from Wellington last week on the Monowai, was forcibly transferred to the Marama and sent back to Wellington. This information was given in the House to-day by the Hon J. G. Cobbe, who had been asked a series of urgent questions on this subject by Mr Fraser (Wellington Central). Mr Cobbe added that no information was available as to the reason why Griffin had been refused admittance to Australia by the Commonwealth authorities. The questions sfibmitted by Mr Fraser included a query as to whether the Minister considered the education test in Dutch, to which Griffin was submitted, was a fair method to adopt, and whether he considered that the locking-up of Griffin in his cabin, and his subsequent transfer from the Monowai to the Marama, under police escort, was the kind of treatment to which a New Zealand citizen was entitled. The Minister was also asked if the New Zealand police authorities had anything to do with notifying the Commonwealth authorities of Griffin’s impending visit, and whether they acted in collusion with the Australian police in preventing Griffin’s landing in Australia. A further question asked, if the Government would take steps to safeguard all New Zealand citizens visiting Australia from such harsh and unfair treatment. The Minister, after denying any complicity by the New Zealand police in the matter, said that he had not had time to inquire into the other questions.