DALMATIAN GUM DIGGERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 23

DALMATIAN GUM DIGGERS

SEGREGATION OF SINGLE AND UNNATURALISED MEN. WELLINGTON, Juno 24. A deputation representing gum waited on the Prime Minister to-day to protrst against the Government's deckion to segregate single and umiaturalised Dalmatian and Croatian gumdiggcr3 on what id known as the Paraugaronga gumfield. Mr Montagu, in placing the merchants' arguments before Mr Massey, urge;] that the proposed action of the Government would be an injustice to a body of men who had mostly been proved loyal, and would also mean a very serious blow to the g-um mdustry. lie declared that the Parengarenga held produced mostly only black gum of inferior quality, which, if over produced, would result in a heavy fall in the price of •such gum and an increase in the price of white gums. As to all manner r>f wild rumours spread about concerning these men, ho contended that they were absolutely without foundation. There were 2000 or 2500 of them altogether, and their loyalty to the cause of the Allies had been demonstrated in many ways, among others, by the collection of over £6OOO for the l'afrioti<j funds. Mr Massoy, in reply, said it was unfortunate that the importance of the gum industry was not understood outside tho Auckland province. People did not realise that for the last 30 years the export of gum from Auckland averaged not less than

Mr Massoy, in reply, said it was unfortunate that the importance of the gum industry was not understood outside tho Auckland province. People did not realise that for the last 30 years the export of gum from Auckland averaged not less than £500.000 yearly. Tho Government did not want to interfere with this industry any more than was possible, but the position was that for some months past all sorts of rumours had been going round the country respecting the loyalty and tho menace of these so-called Austrians. It had been paid that bodies of them had been seen drilling in a number of places, that they .had largo quantities of anus concealed, and even that they were waiting for the signal to revolt. The Government lead been approached by people from all over the dominion, demanding steps to protect the British settlers in the North Auckland peninsula, and it had been specially urged that the menace was greater owing to the large numbers of young men wiio had gone to tho war from the North of Auckland, with the result that the people left behind were at tho mercy of men intensely hostile to Britain. Knowing these Dalmatian; himself, he had little concern about their loyalty, but soma time ago he asked the three North Auckland members to form a committee to advise him from time to time respecting tho situation in the north. The police wero also instructed to take possession of all arms held by alien enemy gumdiggers, and the result was that a few guns and revolver? were found, but nothing of any consequence. Although ho was satisfied that the bulk of these men were loyal, there was a small minority who were doubtful, and the Government had therefore decided that unnaturaliscd and unmarried alien diggets should he removed north of a certain line where there was no settlement; that was to say, they would have to follow their occupation in the Parcngarcuga gumfield. Naturalised and married men would not bo interfered with. These gumdiggers would have tho tight to sell their gum wherever and to whomever they liked. There was to bo no monopoly of any sort, and they would merely pay the same royalty being pairj at present. " Tho only condition was that they would stay north of a certain line until the wav came to an end. The Government had to regard the public welfare and public safety, and to allay public anxiety as far as possible, but was not going to do any more than it could help to seriously interfere with the gum industry.