ON PAROLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12765, 8 October 1919, Page 5

ON PAROLE.

ALIENS LIBERATED.

POSITION OF THE INTERNED

[P*r Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 7. There are at- present about two hunGermans and Austrians interned in New Zealand, but until the official proclamation of peace has been made the Government can make no pronouncement regarding their liberation. Some of these aliens aro married to New Zealand women and have children, and instances have occurred where their long confinement has caused a certain amount of financial embarrassment to' their wives and families. Dependants in such circumstances are entitled to claim relief from Charitable Aid Boards, who receive reimbursement from the War Expenses Department for payments which they make, in order that those wives and families wno are in necessitous circumstances may be enabled to receive further assistance, arrangements have been made for married prisoners of war to be liberated on parole. These men must obtain work, and the conditions attaching to their release provide that they must report to the police authorities at such times as may be decided upon axid must not travel more than twenty miles from the tovyn in which they reside without obtaining the permission of the police. Parole may also be extended to prisoners whose state of healtu justifies their temporary release or who have dependants who are in a serious state of health. Already about twelve prisoners of war have been hberated on parole. They are ail Germans, and two of them ‘ have been released on the grounds of bad Health. in certain eases Germans who were arrested in New Zealand under the general policy of the Government but against whom nothing is known’ are being permitted to return to traha, provided they can establish proof that they were naturalised there and have obtained the consent of the Australian authorities to reside in the Commonwealth Up to the present two Germans have gone back to Australia to live, and an application from another for authority to return is now receiving consideration. One of these men had been in New Zealand only since 1913, and was employed on the waterfront. The regulations laid it down however, that no alien enemies were to be allowed to work on the wharves, and as he had not been naturalised in New Zealand he accordingly had to undergo internment. His conduct while a prisoner of war was said to lie excellent, and he was considered to entertain anti-German feelmgs- Although this man was born in Germany, he had resided in Australia since his childhood. Some of the priwar ar ? maiming allegiance lO new States which have been set up in Europe by the Peace Conference, and are advancing this as a reason whv they should be liberated. Four of them maintain that they are of Czechoi!!i k i and they have asked to be released on this ground, f? steps in tins direction will be taken by the military authorities, howevfr-,. lmtil the internees can produce satisfactory evidence regarding their imtionahty from the Czecho-Slovak National Committee in Loudon. In May last the Wiilochra left New Zealand with a number of prisoners of war who were being returned to the lather land. Some of them had the option of going back to Germany, and others had no choice ia the matter, their further residence in New Zealand, whether as free men or internees not uemg considered desirable. a- I n- is J inde , rstood that a resident of Wellington has received a cablegram iromono of the prisoners who left by the Willochra to the effect that he is returning to New Zealand. The country zrom which the cablegram is reported to hare been sent is Spain and it is believed that the man will he back in the Dominion very shortly. It is not known whether he has obtained British passports to return to New Zealand or whether, he has succeeded in proving he is a national of one of the new European States. As far as the - , >ew Zealand authorities are concerned, all the evidence goes to show that be is a German, and unless he possesses satisfactory credentials when he returns he will not be allowed to land in this country; ■