REPLY TO COMMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 9

REPLY TO COMMENT.

Rules Governing Entry of Foreigners to N.Z. DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. This Day In an official reply to complaints made by Mr W. Ooudriaan. director of the Holland-Australia Shipping lino regarding the Dominion Customs laws, it was stated that restrictions imposed on foreigners arriving in New Zealand were laid down by the Immigration Restriction Act and in general were far less burdensome or vexatious than those in foreign countries. In regard to the complaint that the visitors had to wait till all the other passengers had been put through, in spite of the fact that .they held a British visa, it was pointed out that it would be manifestly impracticable to hold up others until the formalities concerning foreigners required by the Act had been completed. The responsibility was on the Customs Department to see that no persons against whom the provisions of the Act would operate were allowed to enter the country. The possession of the British visa did not entitle a foreigner to land without the prescribed permit, although in special cases temporary permits might be issued. In a statement mad' in Sydney Mr Goudriaan said that the Dominion’s tourist trade would suffer considerably if laws put into effect by the Customs Department were not altered. He complained of delays and restrictions governing the entry of foreigners into New Zealand.