TREATMENT OF ALIENS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9074, 19 June 1915, Page 8

TREATMENT OF ALIENS

ADVISORY BOARD VICTORIA COLLEGE AND THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. WHAT OUR READERS THINK. To -the Editor “N-Z. Times.’’ Sir,—The finance committee’s , report on Professor Von Zcdiilz’s position is a curious tangle. (1) Tho committee quotes for consideration the proclamation of August 9th, 3914 relating to .subjects of tho German Emperor; (2) it refers to a Royal Commission (sic) to deal with aliens; (3; it says Professor Von ZedliU is not a naturalised British subject, and it is not certain that ho is a German subject; (4) it says George -William Von Zedlitz was born in Germany; (5) it says the written paiole of Professoi Von Zedlitz has been accepted by the Government.

If it is not certain, as alleged thirdly, .hat the professor is a German subject, the rmerencu to the proclamation relating to Germans, as quoted, seemsuperfluons. If, as alleged fifthly, the Government has accepted tire written paiole of the professor, it may bo asked way has the Government . ooue so? Tho proclamation. as quoted, does not icier to alien enemy prisoners. Tuore is a tender touch in the reference to this point, giving rise to misgivings as to the initial procedure aud tne rcuso-s lor it which demand further complete explanation. Tho situation, as revealed by these preliminary statements, being thus shrouded in niy«ter** the committee then deals with the personal character and ability of the professor, which no one appears to have called in question.

Tlie second statement •_ is erroneous. There is no Royal Commission, but an Advisory Board, to inquire into cases referred to it by the Government. It is umikeiy to inquire into the dealings of the Goevrament itself in respect to alien enemies. To use Mr Atkinson's expression, does not this report seem to be “a miserable shuttle’? Tho true issue is this: We are at win with the German Empire. The German professions and their practice have been and are deliberately brutal and treacherous. The German Emperor is* formally denounced as a muidorer. German murders and bestialities have the approval and active concurrence of the German statesmen, military, professors and press throughout their Empire. Our relatives, friends, countrymen and Allies are and have been suffering from these brutalities. Aro we; then, to use the Hon. A. L. Herdman’s expression, to be “such blackguards” in Now Zealand as to trust alien enemies during the war, as if they were loyal British subjects, and to employ them in positions ot trust ami confidence, wilfully shutting our eyes to the risks to which we subject the Empire generally and our own small forces in particular? One example may suffice from Trooper Bluegum’s letters :—"There were spies on the transports, among the interpreters, in, the supply depots, and tho Turks, or rather the German officers, were kept well informed of every movt of the Allies- . • . Mostly do we bate them for the shocking mutilations on our killed and wounded." etc., etc. We may well consider how far our false and flabby sentimentalist)! is ti be allowed to further these terrible evils which are besetting our troops. , And we may. at tho same time, ask ourselves it we.are such indescribable fools as to suppose that, if there are alien enemies amongst us who contemplate betraying ns to the enemy, they are ■going to inform our Advisory Board of their intentions?--! am, etc. PATRIOT. . June 18th. “THAT GERMAN PROFESSOR” To the Editor "N.Z. Times.” Sir,—ls it not remarkable at this most critical period of our history that the hellish enemy alien should dwell amid refinement and culture and also hobnob with Government officials and influential people, when we are daily reading our mgn.ful losses brought about by this German scourge? Seemingly Minister Hardman is proud of this unnaturalised German, and if he applied as much energy in settling the German scourge in New Zealand as he did when he brought out his "specials,” possibly the country would benefit from a very muchteiayed internment of the uunaturalised enemy. Mr Atkinson, for some reason or other, has a very warm corner in his heart for the "professor,” and this same Mr Atkinson as a scribe for years wrote leaders on "Conscription, ’ published in the Wellington press, who advocated imprisonment for military defaulters. who also threw a tirade of abuse through tho press at the imprisoned boys on Kipa Island for not preparin'* to meet the enemy. We now find this scribe geeing tor a German. Sir I sincerely hope that the public will rise now, and by agitation support Messrs C. Wilson and Watson in getting rid of an uunaturalised German.—l am, etc ” T. H. STEPHENS. June 18th. -