"INTERN THEM!"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 75, 21 December 1917, Page 6

"INTERN THEM!"

THE ENEMY WITHIN OUR GATES

COMMERCIAL MEN'S DEMAND

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

Over a hundred members of the Wellington Commercial Travellers and ." "'■{•"ou.semen's Association assembled m the social hall of the Commercial -travel ers' Club during the lunch hour yesterday to discuss the subject of tho enemy within our midst, and ways and means ot eliminating the influence such may probably wield. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. F \\. aianton (president), who said that petoro putting a motion to tho meeting he would like to touch upon the question of enemy subjects and their influence—a subject of such importance that it should be in abler hands than his. In referring to the recent disaster at Halifax, where 25,000 people bad been rendered homeless and a great number killed, he said that the Admiralty had thought it wise to arrest tho surviving members of tho crew of the vessel which had run down the munition ship. He voiced the gratification that the business men of Wellington bad felt on learning that Canada had done so well in regard to conscription, by showing to the world .that they (the Canadians) thought that the time had arrived when every man in tho Empire should do his duty. (Applause.) And to-morrow be hoped it would bo known that Australia had decided to show to tho world its determination to suppress tho Hun, who was threatening tho whole planet at the present timo. The motion he proposed to introduce was not a new one, and lie hoped that no ono would think it was anything in the nature of carping criticism, but something they owed the boys who wero doing so much for them, and that overyone would accept it as justifiable criticism. If the Government had not the pluck to do the right thing, and so long as there was free speech and fearless, _ then he was in order in bringing forward this motion! Ho knew absolutely, as every commercial man know, that German influence in the Dominion at the present timo was a power. They had it to-day, socially, jwlitically, and commercially, and it was for them to strain every nerve to combat it. The boys were fighting it at tho front—wo had to fight it here. Whether the enemy subject wero a steward on a ship or a Gorman consul there was only one course to take with him—intern him. (Loud and long applause.) If ho wore a gentleman, then they would treat him as a gentleman, but they should make no distinction in respect to internment. Ho was pleased to bo a representative on the last two conferences of the New Zealand Associated Chambers of Commerce, and there important remits had been passed with regard to onemy trado and naturalisation, and though thoso remits had been passed by leading business men from one end of the Dominion to the other, the Government had taken no immediate action. Ho urged that firmer action should bo taken in regard to enemy subjects, wlio should all be interned. (Loud applause.) The motion he moved was as follows— That this meeting urges the National Government to tako stricter and sterner measures in regard to ciiomy subjects now in our midst, whether naturalised or umiaturalised." Mr. W. F. Cnthbertson (vice-mpsi-dent), in seconding the motion, said that he thought Mr. Manton had expressed tha feelings of tbo meeting most eloquently, and as a British subjeot he agreed with the necessity for calling the meeting. "Mr. Manton said that some of tho Germans aro gentlemen," concluded Mr. Ciithhrrl£flu. "I'm if I've ever found one!" (Applause.) Mr. C. W. Tanner said that for a number of years tho matter of the extent of foreign emigration to New Zealand had been pointed out, but nothing had over boon done, and now the country was getting a lesson it perhaps deserved. But tbi ( s lesson was a bombshell, and like a bomb t'.ie.y did not know how high it would bit, and he thought that they might be putting themselves in a stupid position. Hβ did not know whether it wouid to a great advantage to herd all enemy subjects together, whereas when they were scattered they could not. do a great deal of harm. (Murmurs of dissent.) He instanced ths nasi; <:f tho men of the Spo Adler, who by fret-ting toother had been able to >h =ompthiW that they, would not have been aWo to do had they been kept separate. There was no doubt that German _influenco was very strong, but passing such a motion was not going to do much good. It was the German influence in the Government that must be expelled. He moved as an amendment :—

' That this meeting urge the Government to do its utmost to expel from its body .ill suspicion of German Wood and influence. If they passed that amendmont it would show what they meant, and it would give the Government a shako up. Mr. A. M. Samuel said that Mr. Tanner's remarks wore somowhat paradoxical. At first ho said ho did not wish to intern tho Germans, and then on an indication of hostility to his idea lie went much further. What did ho mean ? Mr. Manton said that he thought his motion met the whole of the case, and represented the range of thought that permeated the whole of the people of Nmv Zealand. On the suggestion of Ms. W. B. Lees it was decided to add thn following words to the resolution-.—"With tho object of repressing enemy influence." Mr. Samuel moved that the word "interned" should be substituted for tho words "stricter and sterner, , ' and that it should go out that the representative commercial men of the Empire City of New Zealand were of opinion that all enemy subjects should be put out of hnrm's-way. All. would them know what they wanted. (Enthusiastic, applause.) Mr. T. G. Smenton (Dmieclin) wished to know whether there was to lie any limit to the period a man had beru naturalised. Was there not to be made any distinction between those who had been only naturalised five years and those who had been naturalised thirtyfive years and had lived honourably in the country? It would ho a positive insult to intern such. A voice: Rot! Continuing, Mr. Smoatoa said that they could watch them. A voice: But trust thorn, never! Mr. Smeaton said tho British Empire was too groat to descend to such a step. He for one would not support the internment of long-naturalised enemy subjects. (Murmurs of dissent.) Mr. Manton said he would accept Mr. Samuel's amendmont, so that tho motion would read:— That this meeting urges the National Government to intern all enemy subjects now in our midst, whether naturalised or unnaturalise<l, with tho object of repressing enemy influence. Mr. Tanner's amendment was first put, and only the mover voted for it. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously with a resounding burst of applause.