ALIENS IN THE NORTH.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13934, 17 July 1917, Page 6

ALIENS IN THE NORTH.

PROTESTS BY PUBLIC MEETINGS,

The presence of thousands of enemyborn subjects in the,north, most of whom arc of military age, aud nearly all of wlioin are single, has created discontent locally (says the Kawakawa correspondent of the Auckland Herald), which is finding expression in public mceting§ of protest and in the form of resolutions by public bodies demanding that the Government should mobilise these aliens for national work of some sort, preferably industrial service in the Dominion under military'vdiseipline at soldiers' pay, without keep or clothing. ('•"'A pUblic-mMting was liold iiuJSaikohe [-recently. There was a large gathering of townspeople and settlers. A petition asking that all enemy aliens should be conscripted, either for service at the front or service on public works at war rates of pay, was largely signed. A public meeting held at Kawakawa on Tuesday evening passed a resolution expressing alarm at the fact that there is still at large a considerable number of alien enemy subjects in the north of Auckland, and expressing the opinion that such persons are, or will be, a menace to,society, siuce, when the Second Division lias been called up, such aliens will be in a majority ir the north. The meeting asked that immediate steps should be taken to deal with such,aliens.

The: Bay of Islands County Council unanimously adopted a resolution recently, affirming that all naturalised aliens in New Zealand should be treated as British subjects as regards military service, but if it is found impracticable to send aliens to the front, that they, to gether with other aliens who are ineligible for military service, should be compulsorily employed in roadmaking or other public works under proper supervision, and at pre-war rntes of wages.