WATCH OVER ALIENS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 6

WATCH OVER ALIENS

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. A question respecting the surveillance of aliens resident in New Zealand was put to the I'rimc Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr. G. AV. Russoll, who asked whether tho Government was keeping a watchful eyo on enemy subjects in tho Dominion. Two incidents, he said, which had been brought under his notice appeared to indicate that a closer watch was-.Accessary. .

The Prime Minister said a very watchful eye was being kept upon enemy subjects. A Commission had recently been, appointed to deal < with the question. Whenever there were any suspicious circumstances in connection with any of these enemy subjects tho attention'of the Alien Board was directed to them, and inquiries were made. A great deal more had been done in New Zealand in regard to aliens than either Parliament or tho public wero aware of. He would probably be able to make a fuller statement in a day or two.

Mr. Russell observed that very often the people who do nothing to excite suspicion were tho most dangerous. The man who pave, himself away was probably .nothing worse , than a fool, but tho man who worked in tho dark and said nothing required looking after.

COMMISSION IN WELLINGTON. Tho Aliens Commission, consisting of Messrs. A. D.. Thomson, Public "Works Commissioner, John Roberts, C.M.G., of Duncdin; and Geo. Elliott, of Auckland. have returned to Wellington, after having taken evidence, at Auckland with reference to Taumarumii and Whaugai-oi eases. The Commission will sit ill 'Wellington to-day, and will then preparo a, report for presentation to tho Government in regard to some twenty cases that have been remitted to it.