HARASSED NATURALISED GERMAN.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13859, 20 April 1917, Page 8

HARASSED NATURALISED GERMAN.

APPEAL TO BHITJSII FAIR PLAY.

AUCKLAND, April 17,

There has been considerable correspondence in the local papers recently regarding alleged activities of "Germans at large." Particular reference has been made to the case of Mr Carl Seegncr, ex-German Consul in Auckland, who was interned on Mo'tuihi Island over a year ago, and released a few months later 011 the ground of illhealth, which'was certified* to in the medical report, Mr Seegncr has now written to the Herald as follows: "When the war broke out the Government of New Zealand offered me to go to a neutral country and take all my books and papers with me or to give them up and remain here quietly and do my duties as a naturalised British citizen of over thirty years' standing. I selected the latter course, trusting to British laws and fairness, and all my books and papers were seized. About fourteen months ago T was-taken to the island, but after some months my age and state of health were the cause of my removal to ray, home. After careful nursing by my dear wife, who is English, I was able to take short walks of about a,mile daily after several rests —and these are my so-called 'activities.' I have to report once a week to the police, and am abandoned by all my former men-friends, and have seen nobody since coining home but my doctor, dentist, banker and solicitor. My principal occupation is providing for the kitchen, as our telephone has been cut off. My wife, who has no maids, is herself very delicate in health, (She has to nurse, do all the housework, cook, etc., and is, moreover, continually frightened out of her life by idiots smashing my windows and throwing stones on the roof at night. I am still very ill, and according to my doctor can never be well again, and to remove me to the island would be equal to taking me to the cemetery at once. I write 110 letters, and, except bills, I receive none. I have practically no one left in Germany after fifty years' absence, and I now appeal to British fairness and sense of justice against a few, very few, personal enemies of mine for the protection of myself and my wife."