PROTEST MEETING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2778, 24 May 1916, Page 6

PROTEST MEETING

, WORK FOUND FOR AN I INTERNED ALIEN SETTLERS INDIGNANT.. By Telegraph—Press Association. I Auckland, May 23. An indignation meeting was held in the Temperance Hall, Port Albert, on • Friday, to protest against an alien being brought to the district. Mr. Becroft. who presided, read the notice convening the meeting, which was signed by four Justices of the Peace and 117 settlers. Mr. Morten explained the cause of the outburst of indignation which ■ led up to the convening of the meeting. He said no greater insult could have been offered to parents of sons who had gone to the front and laid down their lives to defend, the honour of the Empire than the action of Benjamin Martin Gubb in bringing a German to take tho place of his eon. in defiance of the feelings of his family and those whose sons were fighting at the front. Mr. Morten 6aid he had taken the trouble to go round the. district with the notice convening the meeting and had everywhere met with unqualified approval. Mr. Morten then moved the following resolution: "That this meeting of representative settlers of Port Albert, -Wellsford, Wharehino, and surrounding districts, indignantly resents the action of the Government in permitting a German reservist from the internment camp at Somes Island, to be brought into the district and employed in the place of a 6oldier now serving Ilia conntry at the front, such action tending to seriously discourage the voluntary enlistments, eligible mou refusing to enlist if their places are to be filled by Germans as instanced in this case."

A letter from Benjamin Martin Gnbb was handed to tho chairman. In this Mr Gubb said that by turning a consumer into a producer he saved (he Government the cost of maintenance, and that he was unable to obtain British labour.

The letter was received with derision, nnd the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. Becroft moved: "That this meeting strongly resents the action of Benjamin Martin Gubb in employing a German in the place of his son now fighting at the front." This motion was also carried unanimously.

Mr. R-eirl referred to the humiliating position in which the Misses Gubb and Mrs. and Mr. Edwin Gubb had been nlaced by the action of their father. He had known Mr. Edwin Gubb for 20 .rears and no more loyal man than he stood in Port Albert... He desired to extend to them, on behalf of this meeting, its sincere appreciation of their loyalty. (Prolonged applause.) Mr. Edwin Gubb feelingly thanked the audience for their manifestation of sympathy.. It was resolved that the foregoing resolution bo embodied in a letter of protest and bo forwarded to the Prime Minister through the member for the district, with a request that in view of tho. widespread, and increasing unrest caused by the presence of this person, his removal bo urged with all possible 'ii9patch.