MRS. FREER'S ENTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 264, 7 November 1936, Page 10

MRS. FREER'S ENTRY

NEW ZEALAND PRECAUTIONS NEGOTIATED WITH AUSTRALIA ACTING MINISTER’S STATEMENT [Per Press Association | WELLINGTON, Nov. 6. A statement as to the method and extent of the New Zealand Government’s communication with Australia regarding the case of Mrs Freer was made to-day by the Acting Minister of Customs, the Hon. Mark Fagan. “It is fair to explain,” said Mr Fagan, “that I did not communicate direct with the Commonwealth authorities at Canberra as to the reasons for the prevention of Mrs Freer from landing at an Australian port. I Instructed the New Zealand Trad? Commissioner in Sydney to make inquiries and submit a report in view of an announcement that Mrs Freer intended to come on to Auckland. Our representative in Sydney interviewed the Australian Customs and Immigration authorities there and cabled a report as to their reasons for refusing Mrs Freer to land. As t have already stated, the reasons did not apply to New Zealand in any way, and instructions were given to permit Mrs Freer to enter New Zealand. “The communications from Australia through our Trade Commissioner at Sydney were confidential, and, as a matter of course, no details were published in this country.”

CONSULTED A SOLICITOR SIRS FREER’S ACTIVITY WANTS AUSTRALIA’S REASON’S [Ter Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 6. The facts of her case as she knows them, were put before an Auckland solicitor yesterday, by Mrs M. M. Freer, who was refused admission into Australia on the grounds that, she failed to pass a dictation test in Italian. Mrs Freer is now staying at an Auckland private hotel. She is seeking to have the ban of her landing lifted, or secure a more satsisfactory explanation for her exclusion. DISCUSSION AT CANBERRA N.Z. COMMUNICATION NOT ON RECORD STATEMENT BY DR. EARL PAGE Received Nov. 6, 9.26 p.m. CANBERRA, Nov. 6. Replying to further questions in the House of Representatives to-day, Dr. Earl Page, Acting Prime Minister, reiterated that the official records disclosed no communication sent to the New Zealand Government in regard to Mrs Freer’s case. Mr McCall reminded Dr. Page that the Hon. M. Fagan had said that this was untrue, and that particulars of the case had been received in New Zealand Dr. Page replied that investigation was now proceeding in order to ascertain whether their had been a communication between the Now Zealand trade agent here and the immigration officials. Dr. Page added the Minister was absent in Melbourne. Mr J. S. Garden interjected: “Perhaps he is dodging Mrs Freer! The National Council of Women has asked the Government for a full explanation of Mrs Fleer’s case.