SOMES ISLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23332, 16 October 1945, Page 4

SOMES ISLAND

Internment Camp Closed (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. The Somes Island internment camp, where approximately 80 aliens have been placed during the war period, has been closed, said the Minister in Charge of Aliens to-day.

When asked what the Government proposed doing regarding aliens generally the Hon. H. G. R. Mason said the present regulations were purely emergency ones for war exigencies. In addition to the registration system they provided for tne classification of aliens and restrictions which varied with the type of alien, some of which applied automatically, and some of which were discretionary on the part of the authorities. Mr Mason said the matter had been complex because the legal classification into enemy and non-enemy alien, or even into alien and British subject, by no means coincided with the difference in the degree of caution necessary to be exercised in respect of any particular individual. "The war now being over, a drastic curtailment of the regulations is in immediate contemplation,” said the Minister. “In particular, provisions for internment, which were a precautionary measure to guard against any activity that might impede the winning of the war. are likely to be revoked, as they have now served their purpose, and Hie discharge of men from Somes Island is merely in anticipation of the step. Some little difficulty is involved in making provision lor sevenal Japanese where knowledge of English is limited. but that is being overcome. The continuance of the camp for such isolated cases can hardly be justified.” When asked whether any of those who had been interned would be deported. the Minister said internment and deportation were entirely different questions. In any case, the condition of other countries and shipping facilities made it. idle to discuss the matter at present.