ITALIANS’ APPEALS DISMISSED

Southland Times, Issue 24524, 27 August 1941, Page 5

ITALIANS’ APPEALS DISMISSED

OBJECTION TO OVERSEAS SERVICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 26. Two brothers and a cousin, all of Italian parentage, Vincent Barnao, Joseph Barnao and Giacomo Barnao, appealed before the Armed Forces Appeal Board this morning from overseas military service. Vincent said he was born in New Zealand, but was at school in Italy for three years. His Parents were treated as enemy aliens. He had been in his present job as a fish-shed hand for 12 months. Before that he was in the Post Office. He had resigned from there. He had had access to the wharf with others of the staff and thought that if anything happened he might be suspected. Joseph said he was brought up m Italy. He had already done three months’ territorial training and was quite prepared to do anything in New Zealand. He was a clerk in the accounts department in the Post Office. Giacomo, a driver for New Zealand Fisheries Ltd., said he had never been out of New Zealand. His parents were treated as enemy aliens. They had been here for 30 years. Mr Bell, the Crown representative: You have adopted this country, haven’t yoU? Barnao: Yes, but blood is thicker than water. Mr Bell: You get all the privileges, but you also have all the obligations and one of those is to fight for New Zealand. , Barnao: I am not appealing against fighting for New Zealand, but against fighting overseas. All three appeals were dismissed.