STILL INTERNED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 233, 26 June 1919, Page 7

STILL INTERNED

GERMANS FOR FUTURE DISPOSAL

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND ''

The number, of Germans and otheri held in internment in New Zealand al the present time is 13G. The disposal of these men is governed primarily by (he terms iof tho Peace Treaty, and .no move can be nindo until the Treaty lias been given full effect and certain in-, etructions havo been received from the Imperial Government. In any, case the prisoners present some problems that will not easily be solved. , •

Tho internets comprise ■ the follow ing groups:— - Germans interned from within, New Zealand '.' 73 German deportees from Samoa. 82 Ausfrinns (including toveral natonnlities) 19 Russians 1 Aliens (not enemy aliens) ..... 3 ■ Others 5.

Tho Germans interned within - Ne* Zealand* consist of persons, who do not wish to return to their own country. They had the opportunity to do that when the Willochra took away a large batch of prisoners and internees. Many of them are New Zealand residents of long standing. Some of them claim to be lpyal British subjects. Most of these men would like to stay in Now. Zealarid, where some of them have business interests and family connections, including wives and children. Tho forcible doportiition of some of these men would in- , volvo either tho separation of liusband from wife and child or the dispatch of New Zealand women to Germany,

The German deportees from Samoa consist largely of men who havo business intorests in tho islands and wish to' 'rolurn there: Some of the men are planters, whose Sainoan property, though probably depreciated, aro still valuable. It appears :hat the Government' has povrer, under the Peaco Treaty, to take over the properties and leave the late owners to collect their compensation from the German authorities. , ; ' 1 ■."■

The Austriane' and Russians include Cztcho-Slavs and Jugo-Slavs. The military, authorities have not essayed the almost impossible task of defining nationalities with exactitude. The men woro interned because the authorities had rcasoli to believe that they wero not loyal.to tho British Empire, and the matter rests there pending the finnl settlement. Some Slavs who have been able to-prove their right to ..citizenship of the now States have been released already. Tho "o'thor", men included in: the list, of internees, may be classed generally as "undesirables." ~