TROUBLE OVER PASSPORTS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 446, 31 May 1937, Page 5

TROUBLE OVER PASSPORTS

MINISTER EXPLAINS REASONS New Zealand Nurses For Spain Press Association —Copyright. ’Wellington, May 30. What led to the interrogation by the police of three New Zealand nurses who desired passports to proceed to Spain for nursing service was explained by 'the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, in an interview at the week-end. It was in consequence of a dispatch received from the Secretary of State fqft Dominion Affairs that the action was taken, this being considered to be entirely in the interests of the nurses themselves. “Three young ladies were granted in 'the ordinary way passports to travel to Spain,” sail Mr Parry. “Then came a dispatch from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs about passport facilities to persons desiring to travel to Spain or 'the Spanish zone of Morocco. It was stated that as a result of the recent extension of the international agreement • regarding non-intervention in Spain to cover the dispatch of vounteers to Spain it had been decided that passports should not be issued to British subjects for Spain or the Spanish zone of Morocco unless such persons fell within the following categories:—(a) Persons able to show that they have urgent business reasons for visiting

Spain or Spanish Morocco and persons returning ito Spain or Spanish Morocco to resume employment there together with members of their .families. (b) Journalists representing reputable papers. (c) Persons travelling under the auspices of the following humanitarian organisations: The general relief fund for distressed women and children in Spain, the national joint committee for Spanish relief, the British Red' Cross, the International Red Cross, the Save the Children Fund Society of Friends and the Spanish Medical Aid. Travelling at Own Risk. On Monday, May 17, Mr Parry said, it was gleaned by the Department of Internal Affairs from the newspapers that three nurses were in Auckland and were leaving on 'the following Wednesday. As the 'time was short and as it was essential they be notified before their departure that the passports in their possession were not valid for Spain the department sent a communication to the superintendent of police at Auckland requesting that th.ey be interviewed and that they state to which, if any, of the approved organisations they were proceeding’ It was requested that they should be instructed to present their passports for appropriate endorsement at the Passport Office, Auckland. At the same time it was asked that the nurses be warned that they were travelling at their own risk and l that his Majesty’s Government, could not be responsible for their protection. Subsequently certificates were furnished to tli-> effect that the nurses were joining the Spanish Medical Aid. Their passports were thereupon endorsed as follows: “Valid for single journey to Spain under the auspices Of the Spanish .Medical Ai l Commit tee.”