GERMANS AND PRO-GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 7

GERMANS AND PRO-GERMANS

— » "ALLEGED FAVOURITISM. Favouritism for Germans or pro-Ger-jnaiis fs a common charge against the Government in these days, and it was nffeged against the Public AVorks Department by a deputation of Otira tunnel workers, who- interviewed the M mister _of Public Works (Mr. Fraser) yesterday. Men are being put off'the works now; and one of the deputationists (Mr. Nicholas) complained that a worker, who had put all his savings, £300",7nt0 the Public Works Loan', was being sacked, while another man, a proGerman, was being kept 011. Mr. Fraser: What do you call a proGerman? • Mr. Nicholas: A man who says he hopes the British race will lie beaten. 1 Mr. Fraser: Well, lie certainly is a pro-German if he says that. He ought not to be there. But these stories are nil very well until wo bear tho other Bide. There is usually some littlo thing omitted which makes all tho ference.Mr. Fraser defined his general policy later. "There has been. 110 decided policy adopted yet," he said, "that any man who is not a subject of Britain or *>ne of her Allies is not to find any work. So far I liave not allowed any enemy subject 5 to tender for public works because I don't think it is right for .them to bo in a position to boss any of our own people. Nor do I. put them into positions as overseers or gangers anywhere, but I don't see how we can stop them working. I. had one man taken off who had been acting as overseer for twenty years, and workmen protested to me_ against this man being removed from his positon. This shows how unreasonable pcoplo are, and shows, also, tiTat the people of New Zealand have not mado up ihpir minds how these men should be dealt with. No preference is given to them, in public works, nor are tlioy put in the position of having to order any of our own men about." ,