TREATMENT OF ALIENS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2470, 25 May 1915, Page 6

TREATMENT OF ALIENS

NO CHANGE YET PACTS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE Tho Government havo not yet received any reply from the Imperial Government to their inquiries as to what additional steps, if any, ought, to l>.> token regarding t.be internment of aliens. No independent action by the New Zealand Government ill au international matter of this sort is possible. I'Yimi time to time it. has been stated that there are large numbers of enemy aliens in the Civil Service. A return of-the names of all civil servanUs of alien origin or descent has been prepared, and it shows (hat, exclusive of ioninorary employees, such as men on public works, thero are only 20 such men in the service. Only ono of these is unnatnraliscd. and be is a Czech, having been born at Prague, in Bohemia. He has been several years in the service. One, who was born at Oxford, England, denies Hint bis parents were Herman ; one is a Dalmatian, one was born in Samoa, and has a Cienmiii father, one was born in Adelaide of Austrian parents, and has never been out of the Australian colonies, and two were born in New Zealand of naluralised Herman parents. All these are included in the twenty, and there is not one case which appears to he in the slightest degree risky. A circular has been issued to tho heads of Departments relating to the employment of aliens, tho first two clauses of which arc as follow:— (1) All Germans not naturalised aro to be removed from all brunches of public service, manuel and clerical. ('.') All Germans who aro naturalised British subjects are to be suspended unless you aro satisfied that such persons are absolutely loyal. Careful inquiry must, bo made in every case." This circular has been acted upon, and furthermore no enemy aliens havo been naturalised since the war began. SUGGESTION'S IT.OM PALMERSTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Palmerston North, May 21. A meeting was held here to-night, to consider tho best means of dealing with unnatnraliscd aliens. The Opo.rn House was packed, and speeches wero delivered uy several citizens, including tho member for the district. The speakers urged tho crowd not to take part in riots. The following resolution was moved: — "That- this public meeting of inhabitants of Palmerston North and surrounding district, in view of tho outrages perpetrated by the German and Austrian nations in the present conflict. call upon tho Government of Now Zealand to take immediate steps to effectively dqal with all subjects of nations with which tho British Empire is at war, residing in the country, and that this public meeting urge that all subjects ot those nations who do not to tho satisfaction of the Government solemnly affirm their loyalty to our King and solemnly forswear allogianco to or sympathy with the nations at war with tho British Empire bo interned." This motion was evidently not "hot" enough, and it was decided to embody in tho resolution an amendment "that every unnaturalisod alien bo a6l:ed to make the following declaration: —'I (or wo) do herewith solemnly and sincerely declare without equivocation or mental reservation that I speoially renounce my German citizenship, that I abhor utterly and detest Germany's methods of carrying on war, which I declare to be those of assassination, piracy, and murder; that I declare myself to be most loyal to the British Crown and the British Empire; that I will help in every possible way against Germany according to my circumstances and ability, and, if necessary, with my life.' "