NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

General approval will be given to the decision to place unnatuialized aliens on the same footing as New Zealand nationals in respect to civilian service obligations. The effect of this will be to bring all aliens under the control of the National Service Department. They will register and, if required, may be directed into special civilian employment. Some idea of the number of persons affected by this order may be gained from the immigration figures in recent years. Krom 1933 to 1941 approximately 4000 aliens arrived in this Dominion and the great majority have taken up permanent residence here. When this number is added to the total of those who arrived earlier than 1933, yet retain their alien status, a useful reserve of labour—representing the proportion of males within the age groups concerned—will be formed. It is, however, not merely a matter of additional labour power. The principle of equality of sacrifice is also of importance. Alien refugees and immigrants are enjoying the freedom and protection of this country as well as many of the privileges of democratic citizenship. Our own nationals are risking their lives in the defence of this freedom, and all who share it should be obliged to accept such obligations as they are in a position to shoulder. * * * *

Speaking in the House of Lords, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Simon, drew attention to the efforts of the German propaganda bureau to convince British people that British bombing raids over Germany would serve a better purpose if directed elsewhere. As an illustration he read the following; “If these planes that, mass-attacked Cologne had been sent to Libya, very different news would be coming from Cairo today. General opinion is veering round to this view. It has been authoritatively stated that no repetition of the thousand-bomber raids should be expected; the R.A.F. cannot afford them —having more than they can manage to do as it is. It is having to send strong reinforcements to the Middle East at once. If these planes had not been wasted on Churchill's propaganda stunts, there would not now be tins hurried dispatch of planes to save the situation in Egypt.” Then he added: “It distresses me to tell your lordships that this is not the language of a single-souled patriot whom we can recognize and welcome as a brother, but is the' carefully-designed language of the German propaganda agency, and was dispatched by the ‘New British Broadcasting Station’ on June 25.” This is a pretty good indication that the British bombing raids are causing anxiety to the Nazi leaders.