ALIENS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24603, 27 June 1945, Page 4

ALIENS

Sir,—Your leading article on this subject was interesting and showed at least*caution and fairness, particularly on the last resolution. However, the Returned Services* Association may have been guided by events. Businesses offering are being bought by aliens at a fabulous goodwill, far beyond their worth. This is detrimental to the returned man who wants to be rehabilitated in business. The price he would pay would be too high to return him an economic living. Some form of control is necessary to adjust this condition. It has been, suggested that all businesses offering' should be placed before the Rehabilitation Department for consideration and assessment of goodwill at a value commensurate with the return. The R.S.A.has probably some justification for bringing this matter forward, as a protection for the rehabilitation of our own men. Until something practical is done, the matter is out of hand.— Yours, etc., CHEVIOT. June 25, 1945. Sir,—Your editorial and correspondents’ letters about refugees miss one important point. These refugees came to New Zealand to escape the Nazi terror. That terror has now been removed. There is no reason why these people cannot go back and help with the rehabilitation of their respective countries. Indeed, it seems as if they have a duty to return and, help build democracy in countries where it is badly needed. They could do a lot of good, too, in re-educating the young thugs who, unfortunately, did not die for the Fuehrer or* II Duce, True, we need more people here; but what is wrong with the good Scotsmen, Englishmen, and irishmen or immigrants from the countries which fought by our side? After all, the bulk of The refugees are from countries which were responsible for the casualty lists in our papers and for horrors which shocked the world.—Yours, etc., NEW ZEALANDER. June 26, 1945. On the same subject, "First N.Z.E.F.” writes: "Instead of confiscating the alien’s rightful possessions and deporting him, this organisation (the Returned Services’ Association) would be well advised to use its influence to improve the housing position awaiting our returned fighting men. After all, the golden (rulels wrapped up in what we are fighting for.” ‘‘G.H." Writes: "Some of these aliens whom the Returned Services’ Association conference would banish from our shores (after depriving them of the fruit of their labours, as did Hitler) are some of the people who first began the fight , against Hitler when most of the \vorld, including ourselves, was appeasing him - . . . Many of them had loved parents, brothers, and sisters who were unable to.escape from under Hitler’s heel, and of whom they have heard nothing since before the war. Let us extend to these strangers within our gates a little sympathy and kindness. . “British Fair Play" commends “The Press’s” leading article on the subject of aliens >nd ‘Public Morale’s” "fair letter." “The Returned Services’ Association’s attitude towards inoffensive aliens* in this country,” writes "British Fair Play,” “is viciously antiChristian and smacks strongly of Hitlerism. We were under the impression that our boys fought and gave their lives to stamp out oppression; yet the Returned Services’ Associations resolutions clearly express a policy of oppression, of which all true New Zealanders should be ashamed. , “Your leading article on the Returned Services’ Association’s resolutions and ‘Whim Wham’s’ contribution are commendable and very .much to the point,” writes “Four Freedoms. "We have no reason to love Germany, but it would be a pity if such a worthy institution as the .Returned Services’ Association allowed its patriotic fervour to degenerate into a sort df Teutonic phobia which will shock ife own best frends and help nobody. The resolution should be rescinded wihout delay.”