OF GERMAN ORIGIN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9793, 17 October 1917, Page 5

OF GERMAN ORIGIN

"DON’T TAKE ANV RISKS 1” LOYAL AND DISLOYAL CASES. An act of injustice to a man who had been called up was brought to the attention of the Defence Minister in Parliament yesterday afternoon by Mr J. T. M. .Hornsby, M.P. for Wairaropn. The man, said Mr Hornsby, had boon before the Medical Board t and wa-s given leave without pay till furti«>r orders. Ho had a wife and child to support. The child was in a nursing home, and the wife not in any too m>od lienlth. He was manager to a Mr McLeraan, shoepfarmer, Napier, and when ho informed him of ttio board’s derision, tac reply was a month’s notice, though the man was told that he might not bo called up for months, cr never. “That, sam Mr Hornsby, “is the patriotism ot Hjme of the peofpio of this country! (Hear, hear.) _ . Sir James Allen said that the man s name was Fred Sunklc. His father was a German and Ins mother was a German, and the department came to the conclusion that in the circumstances it would not bo right to Keep tho man in camp. He was, therefore, given leave without pay. oo tar as tho employer was concerned the Minister could not say whether he Dad dismissed the man because he was a soldier called up, or because ho was of German origin. It was very hard upon the man, he ivas bound to say that; but ho did not see how he could interfere. The employer, no doubt, in his own interest, would naturally try to get a manager beyond military ago. It was very difficult to know what to do in sndh a case. Tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald; “1 know- tho man very well. He used b° work for me.” Sir James Allen: “If hon. members oan assure mo that ho is _ loyal _ Mir Hornsby: “1 am willing to give an assurance.” Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn): “Don’t take any risks.” Air Hornsby: “To show how long I have known him, 1 may say that ho signs himsolf, ‘Your old newspaper runner, Fred. Sunkle.’ ” Sir James Allen: “If the hon. member and the Hon. Mr MacDonald will give me the assurance that the man is loyal, that will settle it.” KARL VEiRGOLTER’S CASE. Air T. M. Wilford, (Hntt) said that ho wished to call attention to a case of another colour, tho case of a man named Karl Vergolter, who had been charged at the Magistrate’s Court with using obscene language and assaulting Constable Snelman. The man had declared, “My father is a Gorman, ray mother is a German, 1 am a German, and I don't caro what blank RritiElher knows it. The Germans will soon win the war.” He hod also bitten a piece off one of the constable's fingers. Mr Playne: “Was he bound over to keep the peace?” (Laughter.) Sir Wilford: “Not to keep the piece.” (Laughter.) “This man,” added the hon. member, “has been called up in the ballot, and I want to suggest that he is not a fit and proper man to go into camp. This_ is a oaso of a man convicted of disloyalty.” Sir James Allen: “In this case the boot is on the other leg.” Mr Wilford asked the Minister to see that the man did not get into camp. (Hear, hear.)