"GOD HELP THE TOURIST!”

Evening Star, Issue 22465, 9 October 1936, Page 8

"GOD HELP THE TOURIST!”

HOW M.P. WAS RECEIVED ON WHARF VEXATIOUS OFFICIALDOM [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 8. “ God help the tourist if he gets the same treatment as I received when I returned a few days ago from a visit to Australia,” said Mr Kyle in the House of Representatives this morning, when the Supplementary Estimates for the Customs Department were under consideration. ' , Mr Kyle said he walked off the ship with an apple in one pocket and a pair of gloves and a tin of glucose in the others, and when he got on the wharf an official asked what he had in his pockets. When he was informed of the contents the official said; “I want to see thein, to see if you have any firearms.” , , “ And this,” said Mr Kyle, “ despite the fact that I had already signed a declaration that I had none.” He said it was an insult to the public that such treatment should be meted out. It would not be tolerated in any other portion of the British Empire. “Do I look like a Communist?”; asked Mr Kyle amidst laughter, which was renewed when he asked whether he looked like an anarchist. Mr Fraser: You’re not good-looking enough. Mr Kyle said it was a wonder he was not told to get the apple inspected by the Agricultural Department. Restrictions and should be removed, he said, in the interests of the tourist traffic.

The Minister of Finance: I agree. It will be altered.