PASSPORTS FOR WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 6

PASSPORTS FOR WOMEN

REPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA. A" statement has appeared in newspapers that a number of Australian young women, disappointed at the number of marriages of soldiers in England, were proceeding to Great Britain- apparently for the purpose of looking after their fiances. The Minister of Internal Affairs said yesterday that his attention had been drawn to this matter some time ago on account of reports appearing in the Australian papers to the. same effect. He said that at the present time, in strict accordance with the Imperial instructions that had. been received by this Government, no women were allowed to leave New Zealand under passport except in cases of extreme necessity, aim marriage, or intending marriage, was not considered to bo a reason ot extreme urgency. The Government had, however, forwarded a communication to the Aetihß-Primo Minister of the Commonwealth, asking to bo informed on what lines the Imperial Governments instructions wero being; carried. out in the Comnionwoaltli, "Upon receipt of the iop y to this communication the matter \youlrt be brought before Cabinet and if it were found that the Australian Government was being permitted to go outside instructions given last year in refore.ico to this matter. the question would be laken up again with the Imperial Government in order that exactly the sanio concessions apparently allowed now to the women of Australia might be extended .to tho women of New Zealand.