GERMAN PRISONERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 8

GERMAN PRISONERS

AWAITING DISPOSAL IN NEW ZEALAND. THE SAMOAN PLANTERS. The German prisoners held in New Zealand are still awaiting the final decision regarding their disposal. Some of them have undergone a slight change of status. They have ceasen to bo prisoners of war ,and have become military internees. But they must remain in the detention camps until the peace proclamation is issued and the provisions of the Peace Treaty become fully effective. , ."■ Some of the prisoners (says the Dominion) came originally from Samoa, where they were employed in official capacities or as planters at the time of the occupation. The disposal of these men, with their familieSj may prove to be a matter of some difficulty. Several of the families remain in Samoa, others are in New Zealand. The Samoan Administration will not be willing to receive them back, but the authorities may decide that civilian internees should be given an opportunity to settle up their affairs. The Peace Treaty provides that in the case of Samoa and other territories taken from Germany, property formerly owned by Germans shall pass into the hands of the new Governments, Germany becoming 1 liable to pay compensation to the dispossessed owners. It appears that under this provision the Administration to bo set up in Samoa under the mandate will remain in possession of the German plantations. The former German owners, some of whom are now held in internment in New Zealand, will have to go to Berlin for the tion to which they may be entitled. The clauses of the Peace. Treaty dealing -with this point have not been published fully in New Zealand. They are stated to be detailed and explicit. The prisoners include a few Germans sent to New Zealand from Fiji during the w«tf, The Fijian Administration thought it advisable to deport all German residents, natura* lised or otherwise, and some of them were: brought to this country. Their disposal remains to be settled. Another group of enemy internees aWS those who wish to remain in New Zealand). These men, speaking generally, were domiciled in this country when the war beganv They were interned either because they -wer* of military age or' because they were considered to have shown anti-British leanings. Some of them have property and busineaaeg in the country, and are married to NcflA Zealand women.