ENEMIES IN THE DOMINION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 10

ENEMIES IN THE DOMINION

R.S.A. Requests Action

STEPS TO CHECK ACTIVITY OF COMMUNISTS

Motions asking the Government to suppress subversive propaganda and dismiss any Communists from public employment were carried by the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday.

Without discussion, except for speeches by tiie mover and seconder, tiie conference decided to request the Government to apply the regulations for preventing the, dissemination of subversive propaganda and other activities detrimental to the Empire's war effort, and decided to assure the Government of the association’s cooperation in that direction. The mover, Mr. D. W. Russell (Canterbury) said a reference a few nights previously by “Lord Haw Haw,” the German radio commentator, to military activities in New Zealand proved that there were enemies in the midst of the people of -New Zealand. Traitors should not be allowed iu the camp in the time of the Empire’s agony. Mr. O. L. Ferens (Dunedin), who seconded the motion, said circulars opposing the war,effort bad been circulated in Dunedin. It was decided to insist that the Government investigate immediately the activities of the Communist Party In New Zealand, and if it were shown that persons responsible for advocating or aiding or abetting communistic principles or propaganda, or other disloyalties, were holding Government or other public office they should be dismissed. Other resolutions were that foreigners should be prevented from entering New Zealand during the war and for two years after it, and that naturalized subjects who showed disloyalty should have their naturalization papers cancelled. It was said that some citizens by naturalization refused to take part in the war effort.