Aliens in New Zealand.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 2 March 1918, Page 3

Aliens in New Zealand.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY. EXPLAINED BY MINISTER FOE JUSTICE. A deputation of over a dozen Napier business men waited on the Minister for Justice in connection with the enemy alien question. Mr J. V. Brown, M.P., introduced the deputation, and said they were not satisfied with tho higher placed Germans in the country. The Commercial Travellers in Wellington mentioned some names and three highly plaeed Germans he understood had gone to the Island. They were not satisfied that the Government had dealt properly with the

questien. A number of questions were then asked and Mr Wilford replied >as follows:— . - "Begarding tlie aggregation of land by aliens and others, I am.in charge oi the Department concerned and I have called for reports from all brandies concerning the land dealings that have taken place, and in the course of a week or ten days X will make it public. "I am not going to take anything on my shoulders regarding men under German names in business, but they can't trade with the enemy now. I know nothing of the Cabinet's actions in connection with the Denaturalisation Bill itroduccd by Mr Brown. You' ask why should not the sons of the Germans who have been called up be made to work at soldiers' rates of pay? You have to think of the Allies cause. That is what Germany is doing with the Belgians. "We say it is unjust, and can we say that if, we make them work. The same thing is happening in France, where the Germans aro making the girls work for about 13 8d nc-r day. We must not bo parochial. It is a detestable position, but we must think over it. You ask whv all the Germans aro not interned. As soon as I got to Cabinet I asked that, and I was shown the' despatch saying we were not to do so. I would love to see them all interned. He continued: "Internment of enemy Bubiects is an international matter, and the Kew Zealand Government considers it to be its duty to give effect loyally to the requests of the Imperial Government, which has required us to intern all enemy reservists and enemy subjects suspected of being dangerous. This has been done as far as we know. If any reservist has been missed, send me the proof, and the National Government will immediately intern him. We have also provided police supervision of those enemy subjects believed to be harmless. His Majesty's Government has instructed us that care should be taken not to arrest persons _ whose known characters preclude suspicion or who can bo personally vouched for to the satisfaction of the Government. These are the British Government s instructions. Are wo to obey them or to refuse to obey them? I believe no matter what our private opinions aro, we should obey them." . The Minister continued that while he could not understand such a policy, he personally thought that ito had been decided on by the Allies for the protection of our own people in cncni y tc ™"_ torv, and more particularly for the pro tection of the subjects of eur Allies, against whom the enemy would undoubtedly take reciprocal »etion. He would make representations to the Cabinet concerning questions he could not answer