ALIEN ENEMIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 13

ALIEN ENEMIES

Sir, —The Commonwealth Government lost no time in rounding up enemies within its shores. One alien had not time to destroy copies of letters lie had written relating to the positions of munition works, aerodromes and docks. Another had several cameras fitted with powerful telephoto lenses capable of taking photographs of fortifications without being actually on the spot. One alien woman arrested before she was out of bed the morning after war was declared, had among her papers a loaded automatic pistol. A young Austrian, waiter at a night club, had a fast car on which ho had mounted a high-speed camera, the cost of the camera being £145, which, of course, was not necessary for ordinary private use. The Australian police and detectives were ready weeks before hand, which enabled them to complete their roundup within 12 hours. What did New Zealand do in this connection? Many loyal citizens have been watching the papers for some time without much result. We tell ourselves that New Zealand is a particularly loyal country, but did we, at the last two elections, give preference to men who had served their country. Anti-Spy.