NATURALISATION OF ALIENS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2227, 13 August 1914, Page 6

NATURALISATION OF ALIENS

The policy of the Government "in regard to the ' naturalisation of. aliens in New Zealand in tho state of affairs was disclosed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. . ' ■. : . •/ The Hon. K. M'Kenzie (Motueka);nient:oued the-ease of a young man, : a Dane by birth, whom, he knew very well; who was anxious to .'be'naturalised, in order that he might, join the Expeditionary Force. He asked, whether naturalisatiou tculd not be granted ■ to this 'man as speedily as possible. ■ •■• . Tho Kt. Hon.-W.-T. Massey. I think the honourable member 1 will realise that : under existing cireumstances wo have to . be very careful about naturalisation. If we grant it to one, we : must give it'to a ■•' RTeat many others, and'l' can't give any encouragement to the idea, that, wo <ire going in for wholesale naturalisatiou. in , the present critical- times..■•'-. In'the Bouso. of ■ Representatives lasl I night Mr. T. M. Wilford b'rought undci the"notice of the Prime Ministei-. the oas< of a youns man at Pongaroa, a> Dariisl subject, -who offered his services, and; s horse for tho Expeditionary .Force. Aα lie had not taken out his naturalisatioi papers ho was turned ; down. '■■ Mr Massey . said tbat. he- did -not' knov that it.; was necessary to turn down i Danish' subject when he -offered to' helj the British Forces! They had known o cases where British officers and -soldier; . had served with distinction in wars ■ii Bnrope. 7le promised to inquire into.tin case mentioned by .Mr. ■ AVilford. 'Re gardiiig,naturalisation lie-said that the.' bad found it necessary to.suspend natural isation for the time being. .(Hear, hear.' i- Thev eiiuply ooiild not go-on with naturalisation. -alisation. under the existing oircuin :- stances. '■'.'■■ ' . . .

e How the Austrian-subjects in New Zeae land feel about the war which their Bmo peror is waging as the ally of England's J s enemy is well shown by the < following o telegram received by Mr. Gordoli Crates, v M.P., from Dnrga'tille':—"Kindly make it known to your Government that 300,Da1-9 9 matians and' Croatinns in this district £> are all of Slavonian nationality. A mao jority 'are British subjects, and as such, '■ we have already renounced our political and hereditary rights in Austria by ret fusing io go to join their colours. W<>, 0 ns a Slavonian race, are bitter against Germanic principles. Wo have always sympathised with- our brother Servians ahdllussions; therefore, as such, we con--1 sider ourselves to bo your Government's ■- faithful allies, friends, and sympathisers, [- ready to join the British colours to figlit. ;i our common foe. Wo .pray that your -. Government may not consider us as Ausn trians, and us such'treat 'us.ns political a enoniies. From your Governments hum- [. ble Slavonians of Northern Wairoa.~ Aj&iijnedi'John Totich." ".