PRISON CAMPS AND THE ENEMY ALIEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 6

PRISON CAMPS AND THE ENEMY ALIEN

Even those who had doubts about the efficiency of the measures adopted in this country for the control of enemy aliens will be astounded' to bear that another party of German prisoners has succeeded in escaping from Somes Island. Such an event is serious in itself, but still moro serious in view of the evidence it affords that our authorities hare failed to profit by the plain warnings given by past cvants—one of them very recent—that strict precautions are necessary to prevent the escape of enemy aliens from internment. Exposure of the conditions which enabled von .Luckbeu and his associates to make their enterprising break for liberty from Motuihi Island, last year should have been sufficient to ensure the prompt institution of efficient measures of control at all New Zealand camps,where Germans and other enemy aliens are interned. Two escapes from Soines Island within a fortnight demonstrate . only too plainly that the lesson was not taken" to heart as it should have been by those who are answerable to the public for the safe keeping of interned aliens. There are materials for comic opera in the escape of a second party' of prisoners from an internment camp while an inquiry into the-escape of an earlier warty is still in progress, but in real life the situation is intolerable and inexcusable. Since nothing has been heard of them at time of writing, the.prisoners whose escape is reported to-day were apparently move fortunate than the party who so recently gave them a lead. Obviously the exact gravity of the situation that has arisen will only appear when it is known definitely whether or not the escapees received outside assistance. It is , bad enough that enemy aliens should be allowed to escape from an internment ca-.np whore they ought to bo held secure. But an even more serious state of affairs would be disclosed if it appeared that prisoners bent oh escaping had been able to call for and obtain outside assistance. In that case the affair would as sharply emphasise the necessity of taking more drastic measures with the aliens still at large in this country as of raising the organisation of our prison camps to reasonable 'standards, of efhcicncy. A -searching inquiry is obviously called for in order that the facts mm he fully brought out and responsibility fairly apportioned. _ It may bo emphasised that the Government will riot cb all that :s necessary by ordering an mquiry merely with a view to the apportionment of responsibility.and the punishment of those who have failed in their duty.' Inquiry with those objects is, of course, plainly demanded but there is an evident case also for an investigation of wider scope taking cognisance of the enemy alien question in all iLs aspects. . Uc mav hero repeat and emphasise a suggestion which «e 'inde in JJccembcr last, soon after the escape o Go man Prisoners from Motuihi Island. Observing on that occasion that, the Government should he as ■eadv to invite a general scrutiny and 'investigation of its policy to-, wards enemy aliens as to institute pocoedings against individuals ae--5d of a dereliction ..I duty, we aC \ CL f , nmniission invested with imlependitffior"v and permitted unrestricted one o inquiry into the enemy alien mobifii in nil «« might not be able » conduct its investigations at a 1 times in public But its finding., providlit were so constituted ae to command mblic confidence, would provide an auhoritative foundation for whatever rc-on.wn.-e necessary, and at the same time, wo Id justify, measures already taken by .the Government-in 60 tar as these are adequate and sound. By instituting an nqury on these lines the Govormucut

would inert half wiiy fho demand which is unquestionably raised for more dI'pctivi! treatment of the enouiy alien problem. •'' ' • Tk case for such an investigation will be strengthened if it is shown that the latest escapees from Somes Island received outside assistance, but it is already strong. Muclv as to-day's revelation and tho events to which it is a sequel are calculated to shake public confidence and inspire condemnation, they do not warrant general denunciations of the Government's policy in dealing with enemy aliens. But such an investigation as we recommend would servo a double purpose. It would not only show where reforms and better organisation arc necessary, but would create and increase confidence in such of the Gpvernment's measures in regard to enemy aliens as arc adequate and sound.'