ALIENS IN DOMINION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 49, 7 December 1940, Page 4

ALIENS IN DOMINION.

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

AVOIDANCE OF RISK * ’ . *0 (Per Press Association!. AUCKLAND, December 6. Interviewed on the subject of the Government’s policy concerning enemy aliens, the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said that the policy was to intern all those in respect of whom there would be any risk if they were at liberty. Those interned were naturally of varying types. Comparatively few of them would combine enmity, ability, courage and willpower to procure any act of mischief; but there were.others of less definite character, who might be mischievous under the control or inspiration of bolder spirits. The last mentioned were interned. If, however, it was clear that a person technically of enemy nationality or origin would not be a danger, he was not interned. “To intern such persons indiscriminately would not serve a useful purpose,” he concluded. “It would in some instances be detrimental to our national economy or war effort and would be importing a gratuitous element of inhumanity.’’ Referring to the suggestion that a more policy would be in closer accord with what had been done in Great Britain, Mr Mason said that several cables which had appeared in newspapers recently contradicted the suggestion. . “They show, on the contrary, that in Great Britain, a country in the very centre of the struggle, thousands of aliens have been released.” The Minister discounted any suggestion that aliens in New Zealand could be of any help to raiding vessels.