HEADACHE FOR G.I, GIRLS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 July 1946, Page 5

HEADACHE FOR G.I, GIRLS

BOND FOR ENTRY TO U.S. Received Fridav, 9.50 p.m. SAX PRAXt'iSCO, Jnly 25. The Mariposa 011 her last trij) as a bride sliip, today brought a 50(1 dollar headache to 57 'engaged couples who did not know 500 didlars were required as a 1 >oii(l before legal entry to the I'nifed Slates could be gained. Oilicials hastily contacled most. oi' tlie iiiteiided nusbands, ex|dainiug tliat the nione\ mnsl be prodiiced before tliey could see tlieir girls. Forty-four liaacees were lield l'or several liours in the lounge aboard llie sliip unable lo see iliqValieiu intcnded liusbands waiting on Ihe pier below. Many broke intw tears and all were very Idlter over the situation. They were not told of Ihe entry provision until after Ihe .Mariposa Jei't IIoiiolulu. Tlie ]iroHpective liusbands learned of llie bond reipii reiiient when they arrivod at the dock t his morning or by telegrams. Some were unable to raise! tlus money immediately. Xino iiancees | possessed visas under the permanentj Xew Zealand quota of 100 iininigrants annually. Of the renraining 44. ten were met by tlieir nien and all but oue of these posted the bond after severai liours.

I'nable immediately to raise the bond. James Bealam, of Washington and his iiancee, Xa'ula Hewitt, asked if immediate marnage would not be a substitute for tlie bond. Roy Grev and .Tonn Ilarvey, of Auckland, also asked if they could not be niarried aboarc the sliip at tlie dock. Immigralion oilicials are still looking in the rule books to see if it is permissible. (irev, a former Xavy nian, is extremely irate after crossiitg the continent to meet Joan. "It has alreadv cost tis about 2500 dollars in the American Bank and £150 in travellers' cheques before she was permitted to Itoard tlie sliip at Auckland," he said. Also aboard were 151 war wives and tlieir 75 children. Tlie Arrny says this is the last bride ship although some 400 niore brides will come individually | Yet to come are some 1500 Xew Zealand and Australian Iiancees who will b informed of the entry bond regulation.