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MR. JENSEN AT SEA.
Passport Issued at Sydney.
MELBOURNE, February 5.
Confirmation of the report that a pass
port had been issued to Mr. Jensen (ex
Minister for Customs) to go abroad was re
ceived in a telegram which reached the
Minister for Home and Territories (Mr.
Glynn) to-day. Particulars of tiae issue
of the passport show that the system is
lax. Mr. Jensen was granted a passport
for London via America on January 20;
the central office was advised of the fact
only to-day. When questioned on
Tuesday, .both the Acting Prime Minister
(Mr. Watt) and Mr. Glynn
stated that it was most
uclikely that Mr. Jensen could have
secured a passport without the fact hav
ing been communicated to, them. Mr.
Glynn said that after having been asked
by a reporter, he bad enquired from the
departmental officer concerned, and hajj
been informed that no application had
been made by Mr. Jensen to the central
office for, a passport. A telegram had
been sent to the officer dealing with pass
ports in New South Wales, and he had
replied that morning_ that a* passport had
been issued to tilr. Jensen on January 20
for London via America by the Sonoma.
The vessel left on January 23, returned ifor
repairs on January 25, acid departed again
on January 29. The passport had been
issued by the Director of Customs at Syd
ney. It was the practice that no passports
should be issued in other States ?without
reference to the department in Mel
bourne, unless in cases of extreme urgency,
in which cases the officer concerned waa
satisfied regarding the bona fides of the
applicant. When asked what action he
intended to take, Mr. Glynn said that he
had asked for a full report of the whole
circumstances of the case. The position
was that the passport had been issued on
January 20, and his department had teen
apprised that morning -February 5). m
reply to a telegram sent on Tuesday. Mr.
Watt said later that from enquiries he had
made he had learned that Mr. Jensen had
actually departed by the Sonoma.
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