RIGHTS OF ALIENS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 250, 16 July 1920, Page 8

RIGHTS OF ALIENS

THEIR NATURALISATION PRIVILEGES. The Revocation of Naturalisation Amendment Bill, the purpose of which is to compel persons who have been denaturalised during the, war, to deliver up to the authorities tbeir naturalisation papers, was read a third time in the House ofßepresentativcslastnight. There was some brief debate on the question of the setting up of an appeal process by which nggriovwl persons deprived of naturalisation could have the decision of the Minister reviewed. The pleas of Mr. Sidey and others in favour of appeals drew Sir William Herries Into the debate. He said that when the Act was first passed in war time there had been no objection to it. Care for u<e interests of aliens wne not then popular, but now the war was over a .lemand was that all the decisions of the National Government should bo reviewed. Justice was asked for tho aliens, but under the appeal _ proposals would the country justice? The Government could not go into the Supreme Court with confidential reports about individuals. In thn course of afew quips exchanged with Sir. Holland, Sir William Herries said: "The honourable _ member is defending aliens. I have noticed that lie is invariably defending the enemies of the country. It ia rather peculiar!" Mr. Holland's retort was that the Government defended the enemies of tho country—the profiteers.

DISLOYALTY PRECAUTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. It is a commonplace that most of the disloyalty preached in this country comes from people who are not native born. Under the immigration 6chome there will be many people coming to this country in tho next year or two, and many others will come not connected with any scheme Mr. Isitt asked in the House yesterday whether any precautions were .being taken to ensure that people coming to this country were being required to show any proofs of their loyalty. Mr. Massey. said that the question was a very important cne. Ho was afraid that it was a question that had been neglected in recent years, possibly because during the war vary few people ) llw i v> eGr i coming to the' country from the United Kingdom or any other country. But .in the future this question was not going tobe overlooked. There was already sufficient provision in tlse Statute Book to enable tho Government to deal with the matter. It was a very old law—he was informed that it was over thirty years old -•but he might have to ask tho House to amend it in such manner as to make I it possible for the Government to enforce it at this time,

DEPUTATION NUISANCE A PLAGUED PRIME MINISTER. The deputation nuisance has been rather worse than usual tins session. There may on occasion be pood cause for private individuals wishing to approach Ministers themselves instead of in the constitutional - way through their mem'bors. but it is the practice nowadays for people to come many miles by stenin or rail to put the smallest of matters before Ministers, things that could always be attended to by the local members quite well'. The Prime Minister is the worst sufferer by the-business, becanre it seems to be tho belief or many peoplo that they can do little good unless they have direct speech with the Prime Minister, instead of with the responsibln Minister in charge of the Department com cerned. Mr. Massey has a aroat deal of work on hand at present without deputations. Most -urgent of all at the moment is the preparation of the Statement, and he is not being given any time to do this work. He was busy with deputntions from tho moment lie entered his office yesterday until lunch-time, lie .snt in -the House all the afternoon and evening, and at the adjournment had to meet peoplo by appointment. Mr. Massey, when spoken to about this state of things last night, said th'nt if tho practice of rushing him with deputations all day long was to be continued. he_ might have to take tho course of limiting deputations to two days in each week, in order to leave him some timo for oilier work.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT NECESSARY. "It is impossible to proceed rapidly with tho construction of all tlio railway lines at present in hand," said tho Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coates) yesterday. "We shall havo to concentrate on the linos which we consider to bo most important and complete them. Tho question then is whether we shall open up coal land or fanning land, connect existing Mines or complete 'tho Main Trunk lines." Tho Minister smilingly assured the Canterbury members, who mentioned railway lines in their own district, that they would firnl plenty of material for discussion in tho I>ublic Works Statement.

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT The Minister of Internal Affairs moved the second rending of the Mar riage Amendment Bill, which validates acts of postmistresses in their enpacily of deputy-resistrars of marriages, and extends until 8 p.m. tho hours within which marriages may bo solemnised. It also adds "officers of tho SnSvation Army" to tho list of officiating for marriage purposes. The Minister undertook, at tho suggestion of Mr. Isitt (Christchiireh North) to inquire regarding tho status of Ilia Salvation Army officers on whom author ity was being conferred. Mr. Fraser (Wellington Central) suggested that women, if otherwise quali fied, should be allowed to perform the nwrringe ccremony, The Bill was read a second time.

GAMING BILL A Gaming Act Amendment Bill hn< been introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Anderson). It lins not yet been circulated. Tlio Bill, it ig understood, proposes to impose additional restrictions i upon bookmakers. It does not deal with the conduct of racing.