ENEMY ALIENS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1796, 2 March 1918, Page 3

ENEMY ALIENS IN NEW ZEALAND.

STATEMENT BY THE HON. MR. WILFORD. A deputation of Napier business men waited upon the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister for Justice, ift regard to the Government policy with regard to the treatment of enemy aliens in New Zealand. Mr Wilford replied as follows: — “Regarding the aggregation of land by aliens and others. I am in charge of the Department concerned, and I have called for reports from all branches concerning the land dealings that have taken place, and in the course of a week or tendays I will make it public. “I am not going to take anything on my shoulders regarding men under German names in business, but they cannot trade with the enemy now. I know nothing of the Cabi- ° . { net’s actions in connection with the Denaturalisation Bill introduced by Mr Brown. You ask why should not the sons of 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 tho Germans are making the girls work for about Is 8d per day. We must not be parochial. It is a detestable position, but we must think over it. You ask why all the Germans are 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 subjects is an international matter, and the New Zealand Government considers it to he 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 eai-e should be taken not to arrest persons whose known characters preclude suspicion or who can be personally vouched for to tho satisfaction of the Government. These are the British Government’s instructions. Aye we to obey them or to refuse to obey them? ; I believe no matter what our private opinions are, we should obey them.”

The Minister continued that while he could not understand such a policy, he personally thought that it had been decided on by the Allies for the protection of our own people in enemy territory, and more particularly for the protection of the subjects of our Allies, against whom the enemy would undoubtedly take reciprocal action. He would make representations to the Cabinet concerning questions he could not answer.