ENEMY ALIENS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12175, 26 November 1917, Page 5

ENEMY ALIENS.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO DEAL WITH THEM.

Mr C. H, Hewlett, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, at the quarterly meeting of the chamber this afternoon, referred to a Germanborn student being allowed to attend classes at the Technical College. The Council of the Chamber, he said, took strong exception to the action of the Board of Governors of the college in accepting a German as a. pupil, it being pointed out that it was not contemplated that the contribution from the chamber would be used_ for that, purpose. A reply was received that it was not clear that the board had power under the regulations to exclude any naturalised German .from the classes, but the opinion of the Education Department had been asked on the matter. The council, not being satisfied with this reply, again wrote, and in reply the board passed a resolution to the effect that it viewed with much abhorrence the inhuman deeds of the Gorman Government. In the meantime, the person in question had re signed! The chamber had for the past two years been pressing the Government repeatedly to deal with the enemy alien question, and had pointed out the. danger of having enemy aliens at large, giving specific instances, and it was satisfactory to note that the Government at last had decided to take steps to deal with the matter. Mr W. Bottrell said that in New Zealand there, was a. fair number of well-to-do Germans who were capable of doing much mischief. The authorities, he thought, should be more active than they had been in the past. He knew half a dozen Germans who should not be at large. It was an insult to Britishers to have to meet these men, or even to do business with them. The wives of men who would have to go into camp soon should not have to meet those Germans on the street, in shops and on tramcars. It would be painful for wives to know that those men were living in isecurity here, perhaps earning good salaries, when their husbands were fighting the enemy. His firm had refused to do business with a. firm which employed an unnaturalised German who was in receipt of a godd salary. That* man could hardly walk without the " goose-step." He was quite at large. Ho had the freedom of the whole country, and of the port of Lyttelton, and might do a greai deal of harm. (Applause.)

Mr H. H. Smith said that the results of the Chamber's efforts had been very disheartening. Representations made by the Chamber two years ago were only being attended to now. Sir James Allen was not sympathetic to a deputation from the. Chamber. The recent regulations dealing with aliens might not be quite what was wished, but they were of an excellent character. He moved that the Prime Miniser should be thanked for putting the regulations into force. Mir Bottrelil seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The president said that the Chamber had sent five or six resolutions to the Government, asking that the same men should be interned. In all cases direct refusals were received from .the. Government. In one case it was istatrtd thrift nothing could be done until the man referred to did something. He did not know if it was worth while to forward another resolution, but the subject would be dea'l't with by the executive of' the associated Chambers in Wellington this week.