ALIEN TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 2

ALIEN TEACHERS

YON ZEDLITZ CASE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT \ CRITICISM AND REPLIES. i In moving the second reading of the Alien. Enemy Teachers Bill, at an earlyhour this morning in. the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister said he did not intend to go at length into this subject. No doubt members had already made up their minds how to vote. The question was whether an alien should be a teacher in one of the universities or schools. The members would, sea from the fact that he had introduced the Bill that he felt strongly on the matter, and it was absolutely wrong that they should have -an alien enemy in one of the institutions to which he had referred. Mi-. Massey referred to what had been done in this respect in other parts of the Empire. Trouble might have been avoided if a similar course had been followed here. He did not wish to pursue the subject, but would move the second reading. , SHOULD BE MADE GENEEAL. Mr. T. M. Wilford regretted that the Bill was not brought down long ago. (Hear, hear.) It made Parliament look very small to have a Bill brought in to deal with the one case. A Bill could havo been introduced early in the session in general terms. The Bill should be made more general by the striking out of the word "teachers" and general power included to deal with all they might consider alien enemies. The Premier : We can deal with all but those provided under this Bill. Mr. Wilford cited the case of Mr. Focke, and asked if he was naturalised. The Hon. A. L. Herdman explained, as already published, the instructions of the Home Government regarding the method of dealing with enemy aliens. Dr. Newman said the position was extraordinary. Only a few days ago the Attorney-General wanted to retain the Professor at the coilege, and now he wanted the Bill through. He did not understand why the Bill was brought in. The Government had all the necessary power to intern an alien enemy. About 230 persons 'had been interned, and why should other* have been picked out and allowed to go free. Why was Mr. Focke put on Somes Island and then, to the amazement of the public, allowed out again before a month was over? He approved of the Bill, but thought it should be a general one. He was continually getting a number of communications that people of strong German feelings were getting admission to the camp. He had brought this matter under the notice of the Minister for Defence. It was creating a strong feeling, and it was said that one man had recently been turned out of camp for his pro-German talk. MR. HERDMAN'S EXPLANATION. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said he had been deliberately misrepresented. What actually happened was that, some considerable time ago, the question of whether the Professor should be retained was referred to a committee of the Victoria Council, which investigated the position and took evidence, and decided that it was in the interests of the college that his services should be retained. Their report was submitted to the council, and the speaker had moved that it be agreed to Later on Yon Zedlitz tendered his resignation. The whole position altered after thatT Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh deprecated the attack on the Attorney-General, who had made a calm and judicial statement. It was not fair to suggest that he had pro-German sentiment. He charged the Prime Minister with having information which should have made him take action long 'ago. The Bill should have been before Parliament when they first met. He said that a letter had been written by Professor yon Zedlitz which had come before the Premier in which the writer said he had been greviouely exercised in mind as to whether he should not return to Germany. The letter was sent to the Attorney-General in December, 1914. The Minister for Internal Affairs, he said, had replied to the letter, v saving that the assurance received by the Professor as to his position was* satisfactory. Mr. Hindmarsh read further correspondence. He wanted to know what had suddenly changed the Prime Minister's attitude to Yon Zedlitz. He asked the Prime Minister to say why he had not told a recent deputation that . the letter had been written. COLLEGE COUNCIL AND LAWYERS. Mr. Nosworthy adversely criticised the action of the College Council in keeping the professor on its staff so long. It was largely owing to the endeavours of certain lawyers that Professor yon Zedlitz had been retained so long. The Hon. A. L. Herdman took strong exception to the remark. Mr. G. Hunter, referring to a remark by Mr. Webb, declared that he certainly would never be found fraternising with a German after the war. Mr. Malcolm said he had a copy of the letter Mr. Hindmarsh had referred to. It had chanced to come into his possession. It was to the Minister for Internal Affairs from the professor, and was dated 3rd December, 1914 It was true that he had explained that he had said when war was declared by Germany with Russia and France, that he considered it his duty to go to Germany and volunteer in some non-combatant character, but this statement had been made before war was declared between Britain and Germany. Mr. M'Callum absolved the Prime Minister of blame and defended him from attacks. MR. MAISSEY'S REPLY. The Prime Minister gaid he did not think there was much to reply to, except the vicious attack of Mr. Hindmarsh, whose accusations could have been heard as far away as the wharf. (Laughter.) It was incorrect to say that he had had all his information about the professor for some time. It was only last week that he had received information which had strengthened him in the original position he had taken up. He did- not know Professor yon Zedlitz. He had sent all the communications that had come to him' up to that time to the Aliens Board, which had reported subsequently, and there was nothing to warrant his being • interned. Later, at Cabinet,' he had expressed the opinion that the thing had gone far enough, and that legislation must be passed. This was done. Then a petition came against the Bill, and a deputation was introduced by Mr. Hindmarsh against it. The Bill had been held ba*> till the Select Committee had reported on the petition. He had taken the first opportunity to get the report in, and the Bill discussed. Theere was good reason for the Bill. The "Government had not discriminated between any classes of aliens, and had the recommendations of the Aliens Board been different, Professor yon Zedlitz would have been interned now. As to Germans in the forces, he was absolutely certain there were none. Mr. Fletcher : There is a censor officer a German at Samoa. Mr. Massey said he was informed the officer was born in New Zealand, and his father was a respected citizen of Palmerston North He continued that he had hoped the College Council would

have dispensed with the services of the professor ; but since they had not done so, he had been bound to, interfere. He had recently received a letter from the professor, saying he intended to resign, and to see his resignation was accepted. He wanted to be just to him, but he had to be just to- our own people before being generous to our enemies. , The Bill was put through all stages. The House adjourned at 5.30 a.m.