ALIENS IN DOMINION

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 6

ALIENS IN DOMINION

HD HARSH MEASURES MANY SUFFERERS UNDER HITLER REGIME [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 13. The attitude of Parliament towards the enemy alien was briefly discussed during consideration of the Emergency Regulations Bill in the House, and the Government’s- policy, which met with general approval, was expressed by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in these terms. “ It would be folly to neglect precautions, but still our Jaws and regulations will be carried out in a broadminded and generous fashion. Firmness does not imply vindictiveness?’ The subject was raised by Mr Hargest (National member for Awarua) who suggested that as New Zealand bad in the godnoss of its heart admitted a number of aliens who would be classed as enemy aliens, some care would have to be taken in handling that problem tq prevent sabotage which might weaken our war effort. The next Government speakty, Mr J. A. Lee, did not disagree, but he suggested that the authorities should avoid making anybody suffer who had been already compelled to suffer under the Hitler regime. Some people, with the best intentions in the world, miglit inflict a grave hardship. It would, he declared, be little short of heartbreaking if people who had been driven out of Middle-Europe were to be persecuted in this country. He sincerely trusted that the men and women of New Zealand would realise that it was not human beings we were fighting, but systems of dictatorship. They wondered how any nation could allow itself to be militarised, and to swallow propaganda that could scarcely deceive anyone with any intellect—propaganda from a book which stated that the aim of the propagandist was to lie; but there were millions of decent people on whom this system had beep imposed by the weapons of the political gangster. We should all hope that its victims would not again come under the lash. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), who expressed the opinion that the measure, with its extraordinary powers, had been discussed with broad-minded approach to the subject, added that references had been made to the stranger within our gates. He recalled the outcry of 1914 against certain estimable citizens who were good citizens. He also remembered the fairminded, liberal attitude of the man who bore the greatest burden of all, Sir James Allen, who had shown him the files, which displayed well-balanced judgment and groat generosity towards these people. The circumstances today were different, for in New Zealand were men and women, mostly Jewish, who had been forced out of Europe by the invader of their country, “ It would,” tie continued, “ be a tragedy and disaster if, because of their misfortune in their old homes, they were persecuted in their new one.” He believed that this was the general view of the House, but he could give an assurance nothing would be left undone to see that no foolish person did harm in this country. The Commissioner of Police was assisted by capable officers who had made a study of the problem. He was an alert, broad-minded man, and very competent officers had been set aside to deal with the problem, of the alien and itrang«f pwoupViii

They were satisfied that with occasional interviews and general surveillance the problem of control could be carried out in a friendly and at the same time efficient way. He felt that there was no cause for fear in regard to the great majority of these people, for probably those who had the strongest personal feelings against dictatorships were those wno had escaped from within its borders and who would, if given the opportunity, ba the first to join np and fight.