KISCH CHARGED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 1

KISCH CHARGED.

Special Law Invoked by Conunonwealth. United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, January 9. Herr Egon Kisch, the Czechoslovakian author, appeared in the Central Police Court charged with being a prohibited immigrant under a special clause of the Immigration Act, which set out that Kisch, according to information received from the British Government, was “ undesirable as an inhabitant or visitor to the Commonwealth.” Mr A. B. Piddington, K.C., who again appeared for Kisch, asked for details of the charge, and pointed out that Kisch had been prevented from leaving the country' owing to being deprived of his passport and the return half of his steamer ticket. The hearing was adjourned until January 14 pending the receipt of further details from England. Deciding on December 19 that the Scottish language, Gaelic, in which Herr Egon Kisch, the Czechoslovakian author, was subjected to a dictation test, was not a European language within the meaning of the Commonwealth Immigration Act, the High Court of Australia upheld Herr Kisch’s appeal. The High Court quashed his conviction as a prohibited immigrant and ordered the Crown to pay the costs of all legal proceedings to date. Mr Justice Starke was the only’ dissenting judge among the five on the Bench.