AMEN POPULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16233, 19 May 1916, Page 4

AMEN POPULATION.

POSITION OF DALMATIANS. THEIR LOYALTY ASSERTED. SPEECH BY ME. COATES. [BV TELEGRAPH — COBBESPOKDEKT.] Wellington-, Thursday. The question of how the Government should deal with the Dalmatian residents of North Auckland was referred to in the House to-day by Mr. J. G. Coates. Mr. Coates said the question was difficult to deal with. The maiority of the Dalmatians were loyal to Britain and her allies. Mr. T. M. Wilford: How do you form that opinion? Mr. Coates: There is a Slavonic society in New Zealand which is able to certify to those people who are of Slavonic origin, and who speak that language. To say that all Dalmatians were Slavs was incorrect. There was an Austrian element. At the same time it would be quite unreasonable to intern all these people. There were dozens of these men with whom he would trust his life, while there were others that he would not "go twopence on." He believed that the Government was taking the right course in connection with these men. Many of them had assisted the British cause materially by donations of money, whilst others had volunteered for active service. He regretted that the Government was not able to take a regiment of these men and pass them on to Servia. If that could be done it would do much to remove the prevailing unrest amongst the people North of Auckland. There were many young New Zealanders there who naturally complained about the fact that if they went to the war they would have to leave a lot of strong young Daluutians behind.

Imperial Authorities' Attitude. Mr. L. M. Isitt: Why cannot a regiment of Dalmatians be sent to Servia? • The Prime Minister: The British Government will not have them. Mr. Wilford : Do they know something? Mr. Massey : They have laid down the general rule that they will not have aliens with the forces. Mr. Wilford: Why have not all those instructions been laid on the table? Mr. Massey: I believe they have been made public. Mr. Coates: I would like the Government to be in a position to put these men to the test. If they had power they could oall for. say, five hundred Dalmatians for active service, and if they did not respond they could shut them up. He repeated his belief that the majority of these men could be trusted. If they were given the opportunity to go into camp they would do so; in fact, a number of them were already away with our troops. Mr. Wilford : I do not say these men ar«? not loyal, but, I ask, how do you kn ,iw they are loyal? Mr. Coates : Members of the Slavonic Society state that they can tell by ascertaining which men are of Russian "descent, and able to speak the Russian language.' Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) : Has the Government put its hands on those who are not loyal-? Mr. Coates : In some cases they haveMr. J. §• Dickson (Parnell) : All Britishers are not loyal. Mr. D. Buick (Pahnerston) : All Irishmen are not loyal (Laughter.) Aspersions Deprecated. Mr. Coates, in another part of his speech, deprecated the persistent attempts made in the House, by means of questions, to cast aspersions on the loyalty of many men who were not British-born. He was satisfied that the Government had this matter well in hand. The question was a difficult one. He knew a number of German birth who were quite loyal, and ready to fight for Britain. On the other hand, there were others that we could not be so sure about, but they were not doing any harm. They were hard at work, and so far as could be seen were not concerning themselves very much about the war. Mr. Wilford: To-day's cablegrams show that Germany is putting our people to workMr. Coates : Two wrongs do not make a right. The fact that Germany treats its prisoners harshly is no reason why we should break what is practically an agreement with people who have become naturalised, and who have lived 20 or 30 years in the country. I quite agree that in all necessary cases these people should be interned, but do not approve of tine policy of retaliation in regard to prisoners of war. Mr. R. A. Wright: Does naturalisation, mean anything? Mr. Coates : That is not the point. Mr. Wright: That is the point. Mr. Coates : So long as these people can be trusted they should be left where they are. If there is any reason to doubt them there is a proper course to follow.