LADY STOUT AND SIR JAMES ALLEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 428, 22 November 1918, Page 1

LADY STOUT AND SIR JAMES ALLEN.

There has recently been published in the Nelson " Colonist" an interesting correspondence between Lady Stout (the wife of the Chief Justice) and Sir James Allen, in his capacity of Minister for Defence, It is too long for us to re-produoe in extenso, but a few extracts may prove of interest to our readers.

During the course of an address to i the Wanganui Ami-German League, Lady Stout appears to have made certain statements which caused Sir James Allen to demand from her, among other matters:—"On what grounds do you make the statement that it was the wealthy aud influential aliens who were the most dangerous, and it was they who enjoyed the greatest measure of protection, the authorities being far more ready to deal with the poor and uninfluential aliens than to touch the wealthy man ?" In the course of her reply to this question, Lady Stout says:-"If you will look at the list of names sent in by the Secretary of the Anti German League, Wellington, you will find the grounds for my statement that wealthy and influential aliens are protected." Sir James wrote again demanding a more explicit statement, and Lady Stout replied :—" The internment of a number of Germans from Samoa (after four years), the dismissal of Captain Petersen, and the prosecution of a German sailor, is surely proof that poor and harmless aliens are treated with less consideration than wealthy and influential enemies in our miast." Lady Stout says—" The man who has secured several thousands of acres of land since the war was, I find, naturalised (Delbruck law) a year before tbe war broke out, so he is no doubt ' a loyal lintiih subject,' and quite entitled to own land and receive every cousideraiion from the Government, and also from the fathers and mothers who are mourutng for sons who have given their lives to make room for the Huu."

One of the questkns Sir James Allen asks is—"Un whit grouuds do you make tne statement that 'a Geimau Jew brewer . . . was actually paying traitors to commit grevious crimes ?' I you to name the German Jew brow<r.'' In answer to this, Lady Stout wioto : —" The German Jew brewer refeird to by mo was ttie man in New South Wales, who is now interned. . . .

If there are Ge'man Jew brewers nearer than New South Wales, the responsibility rests on the Government which allows such a to exist, and not on mo or other patriotic New Zealandors who have warnod the authorities time and again."

We wonder vory much who Sir James Allan and Lady Stoi t cau have had in their minds, an 1 we really think they ought to take the people of New Zealand into their confidence.