PRIEST'S INTERNMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 31 May 1920, Page 5

PRIEST'S INTERNMENT.

DEPORTATION, TO GERMANY PROTESTS' AND COUNTERS

> / (PROTESTS

.:«(jPEEsa. Assooiatxon .) .'; 51, (Received JfHv. 31. 1.35 a.m!) ,'.;. ■■,:,'V, ( /'-.." .": '^SfH)NEt;:May.3O; ]>' 'During r the war Father:. Jerger; a "Romanist ~was placed* in. the German', ini.e-i.'nment camp., Beyond, the fact of his being of German na- > tionality, other;reasons,;,if any, existed, were.nbt -disclosed. : /''.

■" The Roman Chiirch authorities 'at the ■time';made aii ineffective protest■ against the internment of the priest. The; fixing of Father Jerger's de-' pprtation' for a date1 early in June revived the case arid led to strong protests fi-bm the Catholic societies and representations were made. " t ., to the Federal' aiithorities, not to ?carry the deportation intt>:, effect. :',.. .'', Among others, tile ' I*)rd; Mayor has., /fiaken a prominent paj-t in'the nioveihent. ! 'A\ deputation was , sent to .''Mel- '■ boui-ne and interleaved Mr Hughes to .urge that Father: should not be deported befpre being given an;| open trial,. and in support of this a • deiftonstratibn was. arranged for -to-'1 day in-Moorei Pai-k.. ~ ~ ■ i The • agitation ...'; has, led ;, to. . much heai-t-burtihig and to press correspbn- ■ dence against the easing of.'treat-j n:ent, against Germans- or allowing I the religious aspect to interfere in j the case. . • . . ' :■ ■■■ ■ i

The Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Association organised a counter-de-monstration in the Park, with a, view to impressing on the Federal Government the necessity of ; not relaxing the regulations for the deportation of Germans, and the necessity for not permitting anything savoring of disloyalty. Some 150.000 people attended the n-.eetmgs. The speakers- against the deportation included Mr Ryan, the Lord Mayor, and the Attoniey-Gen-eral. . . ,

„ After carrying a resolution in favor ot the deportation the soldiers and sailors counted the other meeting out #> They then rushed the platform, waving Union Jocks and rolled the speakers off. They in turn were attacked, the proceedings at fone time verging on a serious riot.