ALIENS IN NEW ZEALAND

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14648, 28 February 1918, Page 3

ALIENS IN NEW ZEALAND

THE GOVERNMENT POLICE.

EXPLAINED BY MINISTER FOR JUSTICE.

A deputation of over a dozen Napier business men \vaited on the Minister for, Justice in connection1 with the enemy alien question. Mr J. V. Brown, M.P., Introduced the deputation, and said they were not satisfied with the higher '.placed Germans in the country. The Commercial Travellers in Wellington had. made a deputation And mentioned. some names and thiee 'highly placed Germans, he understood, had gone to the Island. They were not satisfied that the Government had dealt properly with the question.

A number of. questions were. then asked and Air Wilford repned as follows :—

Regarding the aggregation of land by aliens and others, I .am. in.charge of the Department concerned, and I. Have called tor reports from all branches concerning the land dealings that have taken place, and m the course of a week or ten days 1 will make the information public. "1 am not going to take anything on my shoulders regarding "men under German names in business, but they can't trade with the enemy now. 1 know nothing of the Cabinet's actions in con neetion with the. Denaturahsation Bill introduced by Mr Brown. ¥ou ask why should not the sons of the Germans who have not been called up be made to work at soldiers' rate of pay? You have to think of the Allies' cause. That is what Germany is doing with the Belgians. "We say it is unjust, and can we say that if we make them work. The same thing is happening in France where the Germans are making the girls work for about Is Bdper day. We must not be parochial. It is a detestable position, but you must think over! it. You ask why .all the Germans are not interned? As soon as I got to Cabinet I asked that, and I was shown the despatch saying we were not to do so. I would love to see them all interned."

He continued: ' 'Internment of enemy . subjects is an international matter, and the New Zealand Government considers |it to be its duty to give effect loyally to the requests of the Imperial Government, which has required us to intern all enemy reservists arid enemy subjects suspected of being dangerous. i'his has been done as far as we know, li anj\ reservist has been missed, send me the proof, and the .National Government will immediately intern him. We have also provided police supervision of those enemy subjects believed to be harmless. His Majesty's Government has instructed us that care should be taken not to arrest persons -whose known character precludes suspicion or who can be personally vouched for to the satisfaction of the Government. lhese are the British Government's instructions. Are we to obey them or to refuse to obey them? i believe no matter what our private opinions are we should obey them." The Minister continued that w^hile he could not understand such a policy he personally thought that it had been decided on by the Allies for the protection to our own people in enemy territory, and the more particularly for the protection of the subjects of our Allies, against whom the enemy would undoubtedly take reciprocal action. He would"- make representations to the Cabinet concerning questions he could not answer.—"Herald.' 1