JUGOSLAV DEFIANCE

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 44, 20 February 1919, Page 8

JUGOSLAV DEFIANCE

OF NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

OOVER-VMENT'S WARNING. (B.v Telegraph. -Own c ol'respondeut.) WELLINGTON, this day. The refusal of many of tuc Jugoslavs to perform the work required of them under the National Service Act has been investigated by Sir Francis Bell, who has made the following statement on the subject after consultation with Cabinet: — " It is quite immaterial whether in fact the Jugoslavs an: opposed to Au.tria or whether they are recognised at the Peace Conference as a nationality j among the nut ions to dictate tnc terms of peace to Germany and Austria. It is quite possible that both these matters are'relied upon by the men as justification for their action. Another fact, equally immaterial, is that many 0 i ilicm are as much enemies to our ally Italy . as to Austria. t "A material fact is that at the pre- , sent moment they are, or were before .- naturalisation, Austrian subjects, and (that until peace is declared that legal condition remains. A second and equally .' important fact is that by reason of their being, or having been, enemy subjects, they were all excluded from liability to i military service, but there is no reason why able-bodied men so excluded from military service and remaining in New Zealand should not have been called upon to render national service in New Zealand. Knglishmen beyond military age, and Englishwoman throughout the Empire, including New Zealand, voluntarily rendered such national service. This was fully recognised by Parliament in 11,e Finance Act of the first session of 1018 (section 2.7). Indcr that section the regulations of .June 24, 11)18. were made. for '(.reaches of which some have been interned and some prosecuted. ".lugoslavs are employed on exactly the same terms as other Europeans employed on public works, and at the same remuneration. They, are a large number of able-bodied men capable of employment on public works at a time when our own able-bodied men are still absent from the country. It is necessary to emphasise that the armistice has' not yet restored to New Zealand any effective mi in U-r of its abler-bodied men. Therefore the position still is the same as when the Finance Act, IMS. was passed, and the regulations made, and the absolute need for the national service of Jugoslavs to continue the public works is as existent now as it was before the armistice. " Their grievance is not really that they are designated alien enemies, though they pretend it is. Their real grievance is that they are required to render national service because of the country's exigencies, whereas they desire to make larger profits by working for private individuals, such larger profits being only open to them because of the pn-sent scarcity of labour. They are j flouting, not merely the regulations, but the Act, which authorised the Government to exact national service. Those who have been interned as prisoners of war have been so interned for act., ot llngrant defiance, and no concession can be made to them, if the Jugoslavs and their families desire to remain in New Zealand they must obey the New Zetland laws, and must understand that the Government will not allow them to defy that law with impunity. Prosecution wili follow in every case. If they desire to leave New Zealand they have" only to give intimation to the Government to that effect, and their return to the countries of their origin will be facilitated." ARRESTS AT PAEROA. (R.v Telegraph.- Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, "Wednesday. Seven Jugoslavs were arrested yesterday at the drainage works, charged under the War Regulations with leaving works undertaken by them. They appeared at the Court, and were remanded to appear at Hamilton next Tuesday. Bail was allowed in self L 2.7 and one surety for £2.7 in each instance.