The Press Wednesday, February 19, 1919. Keep New Zealand Free.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16451, 19 February 1919, Page 6

The Press Wednesday, February 19, 1919. Keep New Zealand Free.

The Government dught at once to consider veiy seriously whether New Zealand is, or is not, to bo mado a dumping-ground for the revolutionary riff-raff of other countries. The United States Government is now deporting wholesale I.W.W. criminal agitators, and othor disturbers of tho socurity of the State. Are they to bo allowed to settle hero? Ifc is quito certain that somo of thorn will make for these shores, and will begin to practise their malign activities here if they aro not prevented from doing so. New Zealand, unfortunatoly, has the reputation of boing a happy hunting- ! ground for cranks and frauds of every kind, and the spoctaclo of a member of the New Zealand Parliament openly expressing sympathy with the Bolshevists of Russia and the Spartacists of Germany, is in itsolf tantamount to an intimation to tho gentry who have found tho United States too hot to hold them, that here they will bo welcomed with ppen arms. Has not Mr Semple, M.P., said that he and others of his ilk intend to sweep the polls at the noxt general election, and establish a Government of their own? What fairer prospect could bo presented to the undesirables who aro being turned out of England, and tho I.W.W. who are being bundled out of the United States? They would be fools if they did not endeavour to make for New Zealand with all speed. -

Wo say it is the duty of tho Government at once to take stops to protect the peaceful and law-abiding inhabitants of this country from invasion by these ruffians. Fortunately, unless we have misread the law, tho Government has tho power to do so. The War Regulations, gazetted in December, 1916, contain a provision that where tho Attorney-General is satisfied that any person is disaffected or disloyal, or of such a character that his presence in New Zealand would bo injurious to tho public safety, and that such person is about to nrrive or to land in Now Zealand from parts bo? yond the seas, the Attorney-General may, by order signed by him, prohibit that person from landing in Now Zealand. We would, in the most emphatic manner, urge the Government at onco to make enquiries as to whether any of tho deportees from other countries are likely to make for New Real and, and they should take effective steps to prevent such dangerous characters from landing on these shores. With the same object, all vessels arriving from overseas should be carefully watched by the police, with the view of preventing undesirables from dipping ashoio.

Unfortunately, these precautions, even if they are put in operation at once, come a little late. We havo already in our midst dangerously disloyal and seditious persons, who have either been drummed out of other countries, or found it expedient to leave to save further trouble. "We havo thom on the -waterfront in "Wellington and elsewhere, and we have them in our coal mines. They are actively at work endeavouring to spread the mischievous and evil principles associated with Bolshevism and tho I.W.W. movement. Some of tiiem are aliens, and these possibly

might be deported under the War Relations. But others have come from Australia and other parts of the Enipire, and claim the privileges of British citizenship, although they will not discharge any of its duties. Tho law should be extended and strengthened, if necessary, so as to enable these mischievous intruders to be dealt with effectively. In tho meantime, if they are detected in practices which nro a danger to the State, they should he arrested and placed on trial. It will then be seen whether the law requires to be amended. It will be remembered that General Smuts, before the war, went further than this. Ho forcibly deported a number of disloyal agitators who wore endeavouring to stir up hatred and strife, and trusted to the T nion Parliament approving and validating his action. He did this on the ground that such action was necessary for the safety of tiio Stnto, and wo know that tho safety of the people is the supreme law. The Government will criminally weak if they allow plotters against tho security of tho Slate to go on plotting and stirring up disaffection, without attempting to stop such practices. Tt is their imperative duty to keep out the j criminals who are being deported from other countries. But wo should be simplv stultifying ourselves if we allow the Bolsheviks and Spartacists, who have already managed to slip into the country, to carry on their machinations without interference, simply protecting them from any competition from outside.