GERMAN PRISONERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1919, Page 1

GERMAN PRISONERS.

AWAITING DISPOSAL IN NEW

ZEALAND

The German prisoners held in New Zealand are still awaiting the final decision regarding their disposal. Some of them have undergone a slight change of status. They have ceased to be prisoners of war, and have become military internees. But they must remain in the detention camps until the peace proclamation is issued and the provisions of the Peace Treaty

become fully effective. Some of the prisoners came originally from Samoa, where they were em-

ployed in official capacities or as planters at the time of occupation. The disposal of these men, with their families, may prove to be a matter of some difficulty. Several of the families remain in Samoa, others arc in New Zealand. The Samoan Administration wil not be willing to receive them back, but the authorities may decide that civilian interness should bo given an opportunity to settle up their affairs.

•The Peace Treaty provides that in the case of Samoa and other territories taken from Germany, property formerly owned by Germans shall pass into the hands ot the new Governments, Germany becoming liable to pay compensation to dispossessed owners. It appears that under the p:o----vision the Administration to he set up in Samoa under the mandate will remain in possession of the German

plantations. The former German owners, sonic of whom are now hold in internment in New Zealand, will have to go to Berlin for the- compensation to which they may he entitled. Tim clauses of the Peace Treaty dealing with this point have not been published fully in New Zealand. They are stated to be detailed and explicit. The prisoners include a few Ger-

mans sent to New Zealand from Fiji during the war. The Fijian Administration thought it advisable to deport all German residents, naturalised or otherwise, and some of them were brought to this country. Their disposal remains to he settled. Another group of enemy internees are those who wish to remain in New Zealand. These men, speaking generally were domiciled in this country

when the war began. They were interned either because they were not of military age or because they were considered to have shown anti-British leanings. Some of them have property and businesses in the country and arc married to New Zealand women.