ALIEN WITHOUT NATIONALITY

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 8

ALIEN WITHOUT NATIONALITY

POLE CHARGED WITH SHIP DESERTION "AN INTERESTING HISTORY " Israel Bruin, alias Brinn, who, though born in Poland 41 years ago, was stated to have \forfeited his. nationality because of desertion from the Polish army at the conclusion of the last World War. was. before the Police Court this morning charged with having, on April 18 last, deserted from the ship Loch Don at Auckland. Senior-sergeant Claasen, who applied for a remand for a week, said that defendant had been engaged in Dunedin as a painter. The fact of his nationality was disclosed ■when he was obliged to register under the Alien Control Act. • Necessary details concerning the ship desertion would have to bo obtained from Auckland. Mr E. J. Anderson, who appeared for tho defendant, said that Bruin had a very interesting history. He had fought in the Polish army against the Bolshevists, and, he stated, had deserted in 1919 and, gone to Germany. Aot liking the conditions there, he went to live at Antwerp, where he now had a wife and xour children, tie aad latterly, been advised to go to sea and .ad joined tue Locn Don. waich was bound for New Zealand. Keacmng tins country, ue was so impressed w.tu the conditions that he decided to desert, which he did, obtaining work as a painter in Dunedin with a reputable firm. He was now in partnership with one of his former fellow workmen and was doing well. Ho had apparently not only lost his Polish nationality, said counsel, but, not having become naturalised in Belgium or in New Zealand, he 'really had no nationality. Bruin was of Jewish extraction and had joined the Dunedin Jewish community, who thought well of him. The remand asked for was granted, bail being fixed at £25 in defendant's own recognisances, a condition being that he .reports daily to tho police.