ITALIANS IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 62, 14 March 1944, Page 6

ITALIANS IN N.Z.

RELEASED FOR WORK

GOVERNMENT'S DECISION

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day

Italian civilians who were interned in New Zealand when Italj' surrendered have been released to undertake work under the direction of the National Service Department. The procedure and safeguards adopted were explained to-day by Mr. Perry, M.L.C., Minister in Charge of Aliens, in an interview.

Some time after the capitulation of Italy on September 3 last and the subsequent acceptance of the Italian Government as a co-belligerent, the question of making available the 27 Italian civilian internees for work of a useful nature was given consideration by the War Cabinet, said Mr. Perrv.

A tribunal reported on December 12. 1943, that it had carefully perused all the relative files and had sought information of the police and Naval intelligence and Army security branches. The tribunal recommended release, subject to conditions that they should be required to do work of national importance at such places and under such conditions as directed by the National Service Department, and that they should all remain subject to control by the Police Department and under an obligation to report where and as often, as the Commissioner of Police .should direct.

The internees were all released on January 8 last and directed to work by the National Service Department. In the event of any one of them refusing to accept the work as directed, or in any other way breaking the conditions of his release, he was liable to immediate reinternment. The men had been directed to various industries, including tomato gardens, vegetable growing, me fishing industry and building and allied trades.