NO TRAITORS WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 9

NO TRAITORS WANTED.

DRASTIC IMMIGRATION BIIX. IMPASSIONED LABOUR PROTEST. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday. Though it was brief, the second reading discussion on the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill wae lively. The Prime Minister described the measure as very important and drastic, but under the circumstances he considered it was very necessary. Sir Joseph Ward said he "was in full accord with the proposal in the bill to keep out undesirables, but pointed out that the measure centred power in one man to send out of the country, and Keep out, any persons whom he considered should for certain reasons be sent away. It was really perpetuating the drastic conditions necessary in war time, and certain conditions would have been completely altered. Again, it continued the passport system, which, in its general application, was opposed to the British sense of freedom and personal security, though very necessary in wartime. He believed that the "bill, though containing some excellent principles, should be very carefully considered before being put on the statute book. Mr. Holland inveighed against the provisions of the bill in passionately hostile terms. He contended that under it any extreme Christian could be turned back. If Professor De Valera, for instance, came from Ireland he could be turned back from New Zealand. Mr. Massey: Yes; he certainly would; he is a disloyal man. [ Mr. Holland: Yes; and I suppose j Carson, a truly disloyal man and gun- ! runner from Germany, would be welI corned. The member, in proceeding with his ! denunciation, said Mr. Lloyd George, had he come to these shores during the , Boer war. could have been turned back as a disaffected man. ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S GREAT POWER. Mr. Massey, in replying, said it was intended the Attorney-General should I exercise a very great deal of power. j Mr. Semple: Despotic power. I Mr. Massey: Someone must have the • power. The clause applies to people disI affected or disloyal. Now, as to Mr. Lloyd George, whatever Mr. Lloyd : George may have been in the Boer war— I and he took up a strong standing on "what he "considered excellent grounds— Jhe was never anything but loyal. ' Mr. Semple: He was disloyal at the time. Mr. Massey: No one who has known 'or who knows Mr. Lloyd George, will i say he was ever anything but loyal to the land to which he belonged. The Premier then turned to De Valera. I '"Tie is a traitor, and has done more i harm during the last two or three years ' than any other man in the Empire." declared Mr. Massey, adding: "There is no comparison between De Valera and Sir Edward Carson. Sir Edward Carson did good and honourable work in a high post during the war, and sent his sons to the war." Mr. Holland: Do you approve of his threatened revolution ? Mr. Massey: There was no such thing as threatened revolution. ilr. Holland: Oh, was there not? Mr. Massey: He made mistakes, like other men, but was always thoroughly loyal, and did splendid work during the war. The Premier went on to remind the House of Great Britain's bitter experience during the war of the enemy within her gates. (Hear, hear.) He declared that had war been delayed a few more years Great Britain would probably ihave been so Germanised that there I could not have been any war at all. We had need now to profit by our bitter experience, and the bill provided that no immigrant should come to New Zealand unless, like ourselves, he was loyal to the Empire and to the flag. (Hear, hear ) He concluded that the bill was capable of amendment, but the principle iwas absolutely essential. The second reading was carried on the voices.