INVESTIGATE!

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4560, 15 April 1942, Page 5

INVESTIGATE!

ENEMY ALIENS POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND OTOROHANGA COUNTY RESOLUTION “ I AM A BRITISHER ” At the monthly meeting of the / Otorohanga County Council on MonJ day, a letter was received from the ' New Zealand Counties’ Association, asking the Council if it favoured holding the bi-annual conference in Wellington this year. The chairman (Cr V. W. Simms) expressed the opinion that, owing to the war situation, the conference should not be held. In any case, he did not think that much good resulted from these gatherings. Cr Angus Jamieson said he thought such a conference might be of value in getting action taken regarding aliens in New Zealand. It had, he said, been Hitler’s scheme to get these men and women studded throughout the country. When an invasion came or an emergency arose, these people promptly disappeared and then the British lost the first round. In Te Awamutu there was considerable feeling on the matter. An alien in charge of trucks had “sacked” a British girl. If that had happened in Germany, then , The chairman: What has this to i do with the question of holding the I conference? Cr Jamieson said that that was only an isolated case. It had been suggested getting up a petition, but that was a cumbersome method; in y any case, the Dairy Company was “ losing business, farmers cancelling orders. “PUT THEM ON AN ISLAND” Cr Jamieson, speaking with much emphasis, added that he regarded aliens as Fifth Columnists and Public Enemies No. 1. They should be placed on an island. “This” (the aliens at large) “is the rock upon which we shall perish if we do not look out,” continued Cr Jamieson, who added that he had written to Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., on the subject and that gentleman had replied that papers were properly searched to see that they were in order. “Nevertheless,” added Cr Jamieson, “these people are Germans or aliens and they are either for or against us. I bet you now,” he vehemently declared, “that they could tell where the Home Guard is going in the event of an emergency arising.” The chairman said that the object of the Counties’ Conference was hardly that envisaged by Cr Jamieson, who had other means of getting his subject taken up. As to the conference itself, he (the chairman) regarded it as simply “a glorified picnic” not justified in war time. Cr W. Thomson agreed with the chairman’s view. Delegates could do better war work by staying at home. The chairman added that at times like the present a conference was not necessary. He quite agreed with what Cr Jamieson said regarding the aliens. A motion opposing the holding of a conference was then carried. INTERNMENT URGED At the afternoon session of the Council, Cr Jamieson returned to the alien question and moved: “That a letter be sent to the Prime Minister requesting that all enemy aliens be interned for the duration of the war.” “I sit here as a Britisher,” declared I Cr Jamieson, speaking with consider- \ able feeling and emotion. “I want to remain a Britisher. I don’t want to see these Germans and aliens hatch their diabolical plots in New Zealand. I want to remain a Britisher—and we must take no chances.” The chairman said that among the aliens in New Zealand were many genuine ones, some being refugees. He mentioned a specific case in his own (Otewa) district, where the parties concerned were as loyal to the British Empire as he himself. Cr Wallis mentioned that Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, had stated that the papers of the man to whom Cr Jamieson had referred in opening were quite in order. Cr H. E. Walters said the whole question should be looked into. The Police would welcome assistance. They were keeping an eye on these people, but they (the Police) had no powers. Cr Jamieson: That is the unfortunate position; the Police have no powers. No seconder had up to this time been forthcoming to the resolution, and Cr Jamieson rather heatedly expressed his disgust thereat. INVESTIGATION WANTED The chairman said he did not think there was “a show” of the motion going through in the form in which it, had been framed. They would get nbfjhere. Certainly they wanted an investigation of the alien question, especially as there was a feeling that the position in that connection in this country was not satisfactory. Undoubtedly news of vital importance to the enemy was getting out of the country, and the position wanted investigation. Cr J. L. Wallis said he had every sympathy with Cr Jamieson, who was on the right track. Still, he knew of quite genuine and loyal aliens and the motion required amending. The chairman suggested that Cr Jamieson alter his motion to sending a letter to the Prime Minister urging a searching investigation into the bona tides of .all enemy aliens and the alien question generally. k Cr Jamieson agreed to alter his r motion accordingly. Cr Wallis then seconded the proposition, which 'was carried unanimously.