ENEMY SUBJECTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2462, 15 May 1915, Page 6

ENEMY SUBJECTS

QUESTIONS OF INTERNMENT

MR. MASSEY'S INTENTION IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTIONS (!_ Agitation seems to bo spreading both in Great Britain and New Zealand for tjio internment of all German residents, and the Prime Minister of England (Mr. Asquith) has stated that the Government proposed to segregate and intern all adult alien enemies,- for their own and England's safety. The l'rimo Minister (tlie lliglit Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday made a statement with regard to tho matter to a Dominion' reporter. "Recently," said Mr. Massey, "some requests have been received asking for tire wholesale internment of enemy subjects,' but it should be recollected that such a proceeding would mean the seizure of thousands of persons who are at present earning their own living; it would mean provisioning these people, and. providing for their wives and children, and it would be also necessarv in such a caso to arrange_ for a guard of some hundreds of soldiers. Earlier in the war the New Zealand Government was instructed by the Imperial authorities that care should be taken not to arrest persons whose known character precluded suspicion or who were personally vouched for to the satisfaction of the Government, provided they were prevented from leaving territory under _ tho New Zealand Government. In view, however, of the statement made by the Prime Minister of England, and published to-night-, I intend to get into communication with the Imperial authorities for the purpose of ascertaining whether they propose to modify their original directions. What is Now Done. "The internment of enemy subjects is a matter in which we must act in conformity with directions given by the Imperial authorities. Obviously the stops taken by the Oversea Governments should bo uniform. Since the outbreak of war the Government has arrested persons who belonged to the military ( forces of the enemy and reservists, and every enemy subject who was reported a3 being likely to bo a source of danger to the State. All enemy subjects are prevented from leaving New Zealand except with the consent of, and subject to conditions fixed by the military authorities. In the case of enemy subjects not interned, many who are at liberty are required to report themselves periodically, either to the police or to the military authorities, and a close watch is kept by the police throughout New Zealand upon all Germans, Austrians, and Turks, whether naturalised or not. Complaints Investigated. "Every complaint' about persons of German, Austrian, or Turkish nationality is promptly and thoroughly investigated. and the authorities believe tlhat the practice which they have so far adopted is working satisfactorily and in the best interests of the safety of the State."

There are at present interned on Somes Island, Wellington Harbour, and Motuihi Island, Auckland Harbour, 227 enemy subjects guarded by the Defence Department, and s there are under surveillance and reporting themselves refularly to the police 500 Germans and ustrians.