SHORT SHRIFT

MOTION BEFORE PIETONE COUNCIL RIGHT OF GERMANS TO ACT ON LOCAL BODIES.

There was a little diversion from lh» usual routine at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening, when Councillor Cox, in accordance with notice previously given, moved to. the following effect : — "That the Government be urged to extend the provisions of section 42 of the Municipal Corporations Act co as to include all G-er-man-born residents." "I have been subjected to _ a lot of heckling sine© this appeared in the press," remarked Councillor Cox, when speaking in support of his motion, "but I do not intend to apologise." Councillors must Bee, he continued, that there was nothing very serious or drastic in the motion. On the Burface it might appear a small matter, but very often small matters led to very disastrous results. Ho had always held that no foreigners at all Bhould be permitted to help in thei making of laws for a British colony. Besides, they owed their duty to tho men who had gone to the front to fight the Germans. The motion might sfeem hard on German residents, and if lie offended them he was sorry, for some were admittedly excellent colonists. At the present time, however, it was their duty to narrow the scope of German influence. As things were now they were taking risks which the greatest punter would not dare to take. For instance, if the mayor of a council happoncd to be a German there was nothing to stop him employing German workmen, and imsorting German-made goods. Councillor Findlay : Do you insinuate that the Mayor is a German? (Laughter.) Councillor Cox : Oh, no, hardly. Anything done in this matter should, he added, be done swiftly and silently. The Mayor: At the present* time aliens are disfranchised. Councillor Townsend : But not if naturalised. It waß pointed out by the Mayo>* that the motion covered German-born residents whether naturalised or not. Upon the Mayor calling for a seconder to the motion there was no response . for some time. Eventually Councillor Townsend agreed somewhat reluctantly to second the motion pro forma. Hft explained, however, that he was not altogether in favour of the proposal. Councillor Anderson ; I was hoping that no councillor would have the courage to second such drivel. The whole thing, he said, was i absurd and an insult to certain residents of the town. This was not the time to deal out insults to residents. Besides, was it likely that the people of Petone Were going to vote for a council full of Germans T He could understand weak-minded people being carried away at the present time, but he did not think they had anyone like that in the council. Many 1 Germans, he maintained, were worthy pioneers who might be an aseet to a , council. The Mayor: It is well known that many naturalised Germans openly express their sympathy with Germany in the war. I would ask you to consider for a moment what is happening in South Africa. Is it wi*e to give foreign* era the rightsr of British Biibjects when we know they are not at heart in sympathy with the British? Councillor Brocklebank expressed the opinion that the weak spot in the motion was the singling out of a. i particular nation. In a, small town it might look as if it was directed at certain local residents. In the course of his reply, Counoillor Cox said that the fewer risks taken just now the better. On being put. the motion was defeated, the mover alone recording his vote in favour.