THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2725, 21 March 1916, Page 6

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

GERMAN AND ANTI-GERMAN AT NEWTOWN PARK.

The incident recorded in our columns under tlie headings: "A Dramatic Incident—German and Anti-German at Newtown Park," like most stories of the kind, Ims another side to it. Certain facts which have been brought under our notice put a different complexion on the affair. From the person mainly concerned, we have learned the following particulars:—

First—He is not a, German, but with alh the members of his family, was born in New Zealand, his parents being Brit-ish-subjects. His mother was born in Ireland, and,was an ardent advocate of the Allies' cause. His father was born in Saxony, but left tliat country while a boy, some sixty years ago, and emigrated to Australia, and' later to New Zealand, where he took a great interest in public affairs,- and was a highlyesteemed citizen. . ■

Secondly— I The statement that he is pro-German he declares to be absolutely false. .He has always advocated Britain's cause, and the duty of all Irishmen to assist "in the present struggle, and would regret to . see Germany victorious in the* present war. He lias enconragcd the recruiting movements in various societies with which ho is con. nected. une of "his brothers is a lieutenant in the New Zp.aland Volunteer Forces, and is giving his snare time to drilling the reserves, . _ while . another brother is assisting actively in the new recruiting scheme. He : 'himself has spent a great dear of time on inventions connected with the war. and has already offered the fruits of.his labours to tho_ British War Office free, as the authorities well know." His wife is wholly of Irish extraction, and is thor. ouglily loyal and patriotic. f Thirdly—He was well aware of the faottlmt, notwithstanding the above, his business has suffered by the machinations of the Anti-German Lea!gue, and when ho read in a pamphlet handed to him last Friday that all sons of Germans should be prevented from holding any position of trust, he regarded this as an unwarranted insult not only to himself b-ut to the Royal Family, the Belgian Ro.vnl Family, and the Spanish Royal Family, and freely admits that hn tore the leaflets up. ' The absurdity of the leaflet, he claims, is shown by tho fact that there is printed at the bottom the words, "New-Zealand for the New Zenlanders!"

Fourthly—Ho claims that the AntiGerman League, besides stirring up ill-feeling, is doing harm to the recruiting movement by refusing the assistance of many capable men. Ho nb* 6olutely denios tKe accuracy of the statements attributed to htm, or that any insult was given to the women concerned. The attempt to turn Irish feeling against himself is obvious. Tho other particulars of the incident as printed, he states, are untrue, and grossly distorted. - Dr.' Cahill asked his name, and it was freely given, as onlookers, can testify.