INTERNMENT OF ALIENS

Southland Times, Issue 24154, 17 June 1940, Page 4

INTERNMENT OF ALIENS

Request By Returned Soldiers REFUGEES BECOMING PROSPEROUS A motion congratulating the Dominion executive on its efforts to secure the internment of enemy aliens was carried unanimously at the annual meeting of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association on Saturday night. “There are a lot of enemy aliens at large in New Zealand,” said Mr W. Bell, who moved the motion. “I think it is quite unwise that they should be allowed to come here in the guise of refugees. Before long they are as prosperous as anyone in the country. There are many professional men taking the place of those who have gone away to fight. The refugees we are getting here are not like those who are being machine-gunned in France. If they are honest they will not object to being interned in the interests of the country.” A member, in supporting the motion said he objected to the liberty allowed to enemy aliens. He was forced to work alongside an alien who had to report to the police. The president (Dr A. Owen-John-ston) said he had spokken to one alien who had said he would almost be better off if he was interned. The motion was carried. ITALIANS EMPLOYED IN STATE MINES UNION SEEKS SUSPENSION (United Press Association) GREYMOUTH, June 16. Over 300 members of the State Miners’ Union at a special meeting on the question of Italians employed in the State mines decided almost unanimously that in the existing circumstances all Italians should be suspended and the Government be requested to take the necessary steps to deal with them. There are nearly 50 Italians at the State mines. Most have been suspended since the Italian declaration of war.