NURSES FOR SPAIN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 6

NURSES FOR SPAIN

POLICE QUESTIONING Inquiry Regarding Passports Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, May 21., A last-minute exhaustive police interrogation of the three New Zealand nurses, Sister Shadbolt, Nurse Sharpies and Nurse- Dodds, who are to join, the ambulance service o£ the Loyalist troops in SElain, was carried out shortly -before they left Auckland by the Awatea on Wednesday evening. Officials of the Auckland Medical Aid Committee for Spain complained to-night that questions put to the nurses were definitely of a political character.

Il was stated :th',a:t during farewell demonstrations at .the O’ahuhu railway workshops on the day prior to the nurses’ departure Sister Shadbolt received, a message that -the police required their passports. Accompanied by the chairman of the committee, Mr T. Stanley, they proceeded to the police station, where an officer, after reading a communication from the In'ernal Affaire Department, submitted them to a searching inquiry, although it was contended that the departmental letter was ’a, clear request for an assurance "hat persons leaving for Spain were travelling there under the auspices of certain specified organisations. These included the Spanish Medical Aid Committee.

Lengthy Statements. The nurses were informed thlalt their passports, issued only a few days previously, would no. allow them to leave New Zealand without further Inquiry and endorsement being mad®. The nurses refused to comply with the de and for their passports. An official of the committee explained that they were then tojd -they would have to be submitted to an interrogation, end two hours were occupied while -they made lengthy statements. Alleging that the questions were of a Political character, the official said that they incl’ided such demands as "4re you a Communist“Do you support the Communist Party?” "How long have you known Mr Stanley?” “Do you belong to any organisation?” “Are your people Ccmm.iuisjts?” “Do you know that another Communist spoke at the Town Ha.’i meeting?” “Do you know who the other Town Hall .speakers' we.-e?” In addition, each nurse was asked what she knew of the others. The. passports were finally endorsed, but: Mr Stanley forwarded tolegrams to Hou. \v. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, and to Dr McMillan, chairman of the committee in N®wfea'vtrd, stating that the pel..-.- we:c mi'lining the nurses to a leugihy cross-examination dearly of a poll tical character, and; requesting him ■to intervene to prevent intimidation and obvious obstruction tactics, and to stop the statements fren: going to Scotland Yard. Mr Parry replied that he had referred the message to the Minister in charge ut the Police department, Hon. p. Fraser, who is also acting-Prime Minister.