THE FREER CASE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 300, 1 December 1936, Page 5

THE FREER CASE.

Lieutenant Dewar Believed In New Zealand. Press Association— Copyright. . Wellington, Last Night. Mrs. Freer arrived at Wellington to-day by the Limited from Auckland and is staying at one of the leading hotels. She slipped away from Auckland unostentatiously, but she was identified on the train. ' The closest secrecy was used to cloak her presence in 'the city. The i management of the hotel stated to'.t night that she had left for 'the South Island, but there*is strong reason for the belief 'that she remains, at Wellington. It is believed Lieutenant Dewar g arrived by the Awatea to-day from Sydney.

Cabinet May Lift Ban On Her ? Entry. V , ■ Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, Nov. 30. -- tA. ' conference of several senior 'Federal Ministers, including 'the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, and * : the . Attorney-General, Mr. R. G. Menzies, to-day discussed the case of Mrs. Freer. It is understood ‘they decided to recommend a full Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at Canberra to consider the lifting of 'the ban. , v- Until the full Cabinet meets the views of the other Ministers will not be known, but it is believed the majority may favour the recommendation. If Mrs. Freer returns to Sydney toeboard the Awatea she will be subjected to a fresh dictation test in some language she does not understand, says the Canberra correspondent of the Sydney Sun,, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. T. Patterson, having given instructions to this to the • Customs Department. f He is determined his ban shall stand. Mrs : Freer’s request for an independent inquiry will come before the< Federal Cabinet on Wednesday.

Where Is Lieutenant Dewar? ■ ■ Though the New Zealand Press Association has been given to understand that Lieutenant Dewar is in Wellington, having crossed in the Awatea, which arrived yesterday, the report seems to be incorrect, as an interview with him was cabled from Melbourne to-day.

“Statements About Her Char-1 acter Grossly Untrue.” : 1 I • ’ Press Association —Copyright. ’ Received Noon. Melbourne, To-day. Lieutenant Dewar said 'the sugges■fj-, tions that Mrs. Freer might. be able to return to Australia came as a surprise to him, although he always said there was never any just ground for her exclusion. “Her decision to return,” he said, “shows that she herself is convinced the Government had no moral right to ban her and that the statements made about her character were grossly untrue. More than that, it is clear that it has been quite impossible to substantiate them.”

British M.P.’s In Danger In Spain. Press Association —Copyright. Received 1 p.m. To-day. Madrid, November 30. The British Parliamentary party which is touring Spain had two very narow escapes from insurgent shells. In one case the road was torn up ten seconds after they passed.