CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1550, 13 May 1916, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

NEW ZEALAND AND ALIENS

(To the Edit or.)

Sir. —in Thursday’s issue oi 1 your paper 1 noticed the arrest by the local police of two suspected alien enemies. Now, it is no doubt very difficult for the average man in the street to delect a foreigner, even by Ids looks or speech, especially it the party suspected happens to know one or two languages that he can use at will. The English language seems to pass very well among the unsuspecting English or Britisher (whether spoken broken or unbroken). But the point is, how were these men allowed to land in anv port in New Zealand from any foreign port without being pulled up before ? Who allowed them to travel from Auckland .’ I notice that these men were arrested at Levin on Wednesday at midday. How did one of them manage to be at large at the Town Hall at !• o’clock on Wednsday night .’ Perhaps this affair has nothing to do with yourself or the general public, and perhaps these two foreign gents, are out for the good of their health, but if suspected alien enemies are allowed to dodge about Neu Zealand without first being put to a severe test when they land, what are we going to do if they gel a good loan of us <? What I say is, “prevention is better than cine, and every boat should be carefully watched, also every German or Austrian while he is on New Zealand soil, whether he be naturalised or not. We cannot be too careful while we are engaged in patriotism. I am, etc., man in the street.

P.S.—No doubt the strictest lookout for alien suspects is being carried out, irrespective if these few lines.

[Our correspondent has apparently made a mistake in the night. It was Tuesday night that the men in question were in Foxton. Ed. ll.]