TREATMENT OF ALIENS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 2

TREATMENT OF ALIENS.

-4 —:—, " A VERY WATCHFUL EYE.* STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRES9."') WELLINGTON. Jnly 22. A question respecting the surveillance of aliens resident in New Zealand was put to the Prime Minister in the House this afternoon by M r G. W. Russell. H© asked whether the Government, was keeping a watchful eye on the enemy subjects in the Dominion. Two incidents, he said, which had been brought under his notice appeared to indicate that a closer watch was necessary. In one case a German in one of our cities had been referred to by his partner as practically wasting away *o a shadow because lio was afraid that the Ger-mans-were going to bo beaten. He (Mr Russell) doubted whether that was the kind of man who should bo allowed to be at large. Mr Wilfnrd: Perhaps he is suffering front "kultur." Mr Russell paid that in the second c-nse, which had occurred in another city, a German had asked another resident whether there wero any means ot communicating with Germany. lno latter replied": "Yes. it is quite simple." A letter, he said, could be posted to Switzerland, ami it would be sen* direct to Germany. There was. he stated, no trouble about it. On the man who made the enquiry expressing surprise at this answer, the rr.au who made the statement attempted to throw doubt upon it. apparently thinking that he had Rone a little too far. Tf people of.that kind were at large", especially in our leadiiiK .ports it. was time that closer attention was , given to the mattor of whether tlie number of people on Somes Island nhonM not be increased. The Prime Minister said that be was glad to bo able to answer the question fn the affirmative. A very watchiul eve wi, being kept' upon the enemy subject* resident in this country. . A CoSi&on had recently.been appointed to deal with th« question. Mr Wilford: Don't you know that there is a quicker way? Mr Massey said that wherever there were any suspicious circumstances in connexion with any of enemy subjects tlio attention of the Aliens Board "was'directed to it and enquiries *ere made. , v Mr Poolev What about the man who pnfa-brick 1 throusli Fowids's window in Auckland ? He wanted to go on the island, but they would not lot him go M r Massey: He is probably quite safe away from the island. , Mr Fletcher: AN hat about Professor yon Zedlitz? , , Mr Massey said that a jsrcafc deal more had been done in New Zealand m roßard to aliens than either filament or the public were aware of Ho wouW probably be able to make a fuller statement in a day or two. He would not answer the question about Professor yon Zedlitz at present, because it would probably be answered yery shortly witnout him saying anything. . . ■ Mr Rnssell observed that very often the people who did nothing to excite suspicion were the most dangerous. The man who gave himself away was probably nothing worse than a fool, nnt the man who worked in the. dark and said nothing required looking after.