ENEMY ALIENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23700, 5 July 1940, Page 8

ENEMY ALIENS

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY DEFENCE BY MINISTER "NUMBER NOT VERY LARGE" The great caro taken in recent years in selecting aliens for admission to New* Zealand, in spite of repeated requests for a less rigorous policy, was stressed by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. K. .Milson, .in n reply received by tlie council of the Chamber of Commerce vesterday. The council had advised the .Minister that reports received had caused it to view with some alarm the presence of so many aliens, and inquired whether the police had adequate powers to de?l with the potential menace, and if there was any difficulty in tbe way of'their being exercised to the full.

The Minister said he presumed the council was not thinking of the great number of Yugoslavs in the Auckland Province, but more particularly of refugees fronl Germany, Austria, Hungary and Poland, who had arrived in the last four or five years. The number of these had not really been very large.

"Not So Many As To Cause Alarm" Great caution was exercised in admitting them. There was agitation against the Government ior its alleged harshness in not welcoming larger numbers. From personal experience ho could stress the strength and insistence) of this pressure from all quarters, having its origin in strong humanitarian sympathy. In spite of accusations against it. however, the Government continued its caution both as to numbers and particular individuals. , _ "There are not so many alums in our midst as to cause alarm," Mr. Mason added. 'Tt does not take roaiiv people in Queen Street speaking to each other in their native language to give the impression that they are numerous. "By far the greater number ot refugees admitted have justified the care taken in selecting them from innumerable applicants. In a few cases where doubts nave developed appropriate measures have been taken. Appropriate steps have been taken also «'itn other aliens whom one would hardly call refugees." Attitude Supported

Mr. Mason said he knew of no respect in.which the powers of the police were inadequate or of any defect in the way of their being exercised in full. Hi's observation gave him ground for believing that the work of the police was done with thoroughness. Mr. Gainor Jackson said the Minister should be congratulated on the very broad, nature of his reply. ,It must be admitted that the chamber was one of the bodies which had urged that carefully chosen refugees would make good immigrants. Most of the German-Jewish refugees had come as permanent settlers and were making good citizens. He would hate to see anvthing in the nature of a pogrom in a 'British country against people to whom refuge had been offered. There were others in the community who were a far greater danger than enemy aliens. Communists and others were prepared to _ sell the Empire for & song. A special brancli of the detective force was keeping a constant check on enemy aliens.