The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917 OUR GERMANS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 301, 14 August 1917, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917 OUR GERMANS.

"We nothing extenuate, nor r.et down avoid in malice."

What has happened to our National (Government? It is now .some six weeks since the House met, and as yet wo have not had the slightest indication that the Executive is, even at this late hour, prepared to do its duty in regard to the numerous alien enemies and sons of alien enemies still walking about with their heads held as high as ever, and snatching as greedily as ever at every chance of profit, and absorbing with avidity the chances of aggrandisement that the absence of so many of our men at the front is throwing in their way. What is the influence that is thus protecting a most undesirable class of our population, everyone of whom should have been laid securely by the heels within a week of the outbreak of war? We should very much like to know what is behind it all.

We may he told that the fault is in the people and not in the Government. Quite possibly we may ho reminded that at the beginning of the war the Asquitl) Government was as supine and as tender of the feelings of our enemies as our own has heen, and that the Cabinet actually allowed many wealthy Germans to become naturalised alter host ilities had commenced. I'he Asquilh Government was a party Government, and although, trom some doubtful idea that it was unwise to criticise the Government in war i time it lor a while escaped, this J and other feelings of tenderness ; for the enemy, such as failing io j prosecute the war with vigour, j and refusal to tighten the Mock- J | ade. cause,l j> t,» f ;l l| a , |. |s( J and it fell heavily. | If a party Cabinet pursued the ! j J same course in New Zealand j thai our National Government j is following i! would not live a ' week. We have go! past ill,. -Inge when il was considered tlie thing' for members .>I / Parliament and the elector- of 1 the country to listen with baled 1

breath and refrain from com men! because it is war time. But wo have not quite got over the idea that because our Gov--01-111110111 is n coalition of both parties in the House it therefore the general opinion of the country. Wc are convinced that in this matter at any rate it does not represent two percent, of our people. Those who have not forgotten the Zetturitz case, and the long lease of freedom that Hanson and Hermann and others enjoyed may well lie excused for believing that only clamour, loud, persistent, never-ceasing clamour, will he effective in forcing attention. Let us cease to feel an undue solicitude for either our Germans or our politicians and think of the feelings of our own people for once in a way. Let any one of our readers put himself in the place of a father whose son lias found his ever-lasting resting place in Gallipoli or Flanders, and immagine what his feelings are at meeting Herr in busi-

ness, or even walking jauntily in the street.

Most of us are full of excellent resolutions as to what we are going to do "after the war." We are not going to trade with the Germans, or to associate with them, or to allow them a footing anywhere in the Empire. Would it not be better if we acted more and talked less ? We have the power to force the hand of any Government, National or otherwise, and if we are not going to do the obviously right thing, for heaven's sake let us hold our tongues about what we are going to do bye and bye.