AUSTRIAN GUM DIGGERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2806, 26 June 1916, Page 6

AUSTRIAN GUM DIGGERS

TO BE SEGREGATED

IN THE EXTREME NORTH

PROTEST AGAINST THE SCHEME

• News of a very important proposal shortly to be put into effect, by which all unmarried uunaturaliscd Austrians on tho North Auckland gumfields will be segregated, caino out incidentally in a reply given by the Prime Minister to a deputation on Saturday. This deputation, which was introduced by Mr. J. S Dickson, M.P., consisted of Messrs. J. P. Montague, E. L. Gribbeii, E. Morton, W. H. Wharfe, G. T. Marnier (all of Auckland), and Mr. G. Shirtcliil'e (of Wellington). They carno to protest against the Government's scheme. The Hon. A. M. MyeriT'was also present at (he depution. Dislocation of the Trade. Mr. Montague said that the deputation was tlie outcome of a large meeting of tiie united gum trade. It was also representative of the interests of the storekeepers north of Auckland, it was currently reported that the Government proposeu to intern or isolate the Dalmatioii guindiggers on tlie I'arengarenga Company's neld in the extreme north of Auckland. •It seemed unfair that the men should bo confined to the property of one large antt wealthy cohipauy, un less other people were permitted to establish'stores and buy gum there. Another objection was .that,, the Parang* "held contained much -more black than white gum, and tho effect of sending a large number of diggers thero would bo an overproduction ot black gum, and u consequent drop in the price, as well as a serious increase in tho price of white gums, i Tho main question, however, was that of' tho loyalty of tlie Dalmatians. If they were disloyal they should certainly bo interned or isolated, but if they were loyal, why should they be intenered with'? There had been ampio proof that these men were ioyal. Mr. Dickson: Sixty.of them have gone to the front.

Mr. Montague said they had also offered to. raise a unit of (iIX) lighters to be sent to the front to be trained by Serbian oflicers in order that they might figiit lor the Allies. About 25UU of. these uien Had also contributed about .WiOUU to various patriotic lunds m the Dominion since the war began. Politically, of course, tuese men were Austrian subjects, but they were so only by conquest. Xiiey had no sympatny witn Austria, ami when the war broke out some of them publicly burned 'the Austrian in Iron't of.tiie Consul's office in Auckland. It .hud been suggested that a ltoyal Commission shoulu be appointed to inquire into the matter, but no cuusidereu that the Uovernment itself could deal with the matter py means of polico reports. The men themselves were quita willing to "bsT judged oy the reports of the police, 'io do what was proposed would hugely ruin the gum business, as weil as the uozens of British storekeepers who depended upon hie Dalmatian guiudig'gers lor a living. The British gunidigger would never do tile work that those men did—in fact, were it not for the Dalmatians and the Maoris, the industry would have been dead long ago. Mr. Gbibben remarked that it was asserted that it, was only since the war began that the people in question had disclaimed sympathy with Austria. NTo show that this was not so, he handed to the Prime Minister a copy of a Dalmatian paper, published in Auckland in December, Ijl3 (long before the war began), in which the following sentence appeared: "We are not Austrians, l;u'. Slavs—Croats, -desiring to have our own autonomy, independent of Austria-Hun-gary, like our kinsmen in Serbia."

Mr. Hammond said that if what was proposed was carried out, it would seriously affect many northern storekeepers, and in turn it would reflect.upon tliose in the city who financed tho storekeepers. Mr. SiiirtclilVo said that the Dalmatians were as loyal as any section of the community. In any case, if there was any danger, it was likely to be iuteiisi--. tied rather than otherwise by concentrating the men in one district. THE PRIME. MINISTER REPLIES. THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME. Mr. ilassey, in replying, said that he fully recognised'the-importance of the gum industry, seeing that the value of the gum exported was about half a milion annually. The Government did not wish to interfere with the industry any more than, could be helped. For many months past, however, serious rumours had bceic current as to the attitude of the so-called Austrians in the, north One statement was to the effect, that a whole regiment of them had been seen drilling under a German officer. These reports had created a great'deal "of unrest, and although not much had been said in Parliament on the matter, he had had many representations on the subject from members of Parliament and others. Some time ago he had asked the three North Auckland members of Pailiamont to act as a committee of advice in the matter, and they had furnished him with a'great deal of valuable information and advice. The police had been instructed to take possession of all firearms owned by these people, but wit i the exception of a few shotguns and revolvers nothing of any consequence had been found. For some time negotiations had been going on. between the Government and Mr. Alderton, the representative of the Parenga Gum As a result, the Government had given all unnoturalised singlo alien gumdiggers to understand that they would havo to move northward of a certain line whore there was very little settlement—in other words, that they were to go to the Parenga district. Men who were married, and who were naturalised, would not bo interfered with. Some Austrians were already at Parenga of their own free will. The men who would be sent there were to be allowed to dig gum on payment of the same royalty as that paid by tho diggers now on the field. This action, it was thought, would allay tho public anxiety. Mr. Dickson: Will the men be tied down to buy their stores from the company? Mr. Massey said that the company would have to sell stores at prices approved by the Government. Tho men would l>e allowed to sell their sum to whom they desired. There would be no monopoly. -

The Question of Loyalty. Mr. Gribbon: If the loyalty of tho men were proved, would that not allay the public anxiety? Mr. Massey: I believe that tho largo majority, of them are loyal, but there is a small' proportion who are not loyal. Mr. Montague: The question is: Are the mon loyal or not? If they are loyal why isolate them? They do not want to be moved, and if the proposal is carried out it will deal a death blow to the gum industry. Mr. Massey: I cannot agree with that opinion. Mr. Myers asked what proportion of the gum was produced by the alien diggers. Mr. Montague said that the proportion was probably two-thirds. Mr. Massey said tlmt all that was intended was to move the single unnaturalised men, and that only during tho war period. Ko much public feelimr had_ been created by the exaggerated reports that had been circulated that something had to be done. Mr. Shirtcliffe: Docs this public demand come from the North of Auckland? Mr. Massey: Yes, partly. Mr. Gribberi suggested that Hie men might bo removed from tho railways and Crown lands and allowed to dig onlv on private lands. Mr. Massey: I do not think that that would make any difference. Mr. Montague: If you take all the unmarried 'men you will take practically tho whole of them. We understand that about four-fifths of the alien gumdiggors are unnaturalised. Mr. Massey doubted tho accuracy of this statement in the light of figures that had been supplied to him. Mr. Gribbcn said that about fifty per cent, of the men were naturalised, but

the bulk of those who were naturalised were not gumdiggers. Mr. Massey, in concluding, said that the step had not been taken without proper consideration or without taking the advice of men who were best acquainted with the difficulties of the position. The Government was advised that there was only the one thing to bo done.