NOT WANTED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 45, 27 May 1916, Page 3

NOT WANTED.

A GERMAN LABOURER. I ROUSES PORT ALSERT SETTLERS TO INDIGNATION. Per Press Association, Auckland, May 2:5. An indignation meeting was held in t!n« Temperance Hall, Port Albert, on Friday to protest against an alien being brought to the district. Mr Becrot't, who presided, read the notice convening the- meeting, which was signed Ity. Tour Justices of the I'eaco and 11'/ settlers. "K

ifr Morton cxplainod : the cause; of the outburst of indignation which led to the convening of the meeting. He said-no greater insult could have been; offered to the parents of sons who had gone to the front and laid down their lives to defend the' honour of tin} Empire than the action of Benjamin Martin Gubb in bringing a German to take the place of his son in defiance of the feelings of his family and those whose sons were lighting at the front. Mr Morton said he had taken the trouble to go round the district with the notice convening the meeting, and had everywhere met with unqualified approval. Mr Mortem then moved the following resolution: "That this meeting of s representative-■ settlers of Port. Albert, and. ; surrounding districts indignantly rese'iits the'.Ue.tion/b.r'' in from the internment ; camp. at Somb ! s Jsland to be the district and employee!""in "place *of a' soldier 1 ' how serving his country at the front; such action tending to seriously discourage .voluntary enlistments; ~eligible men irefusing to. enlist if their places n'ro to V be filled by Germans, as instanced in this case."

A letter, from Benjamin Martin Gubb was handed to the chairman. In this Mr Gubb said tiiat by turning a' consumer into a producer he saved ,the Government cost of maintenance, and that lie was unable to obtain British labour. ' The letter was received with derision. ■ The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Becroft moved: "That this meeting strongly resents the action of Benjamin Martjir/GWhly a German in pjsiee of ..-bis,'"son now fighting at the fronftjiVv < />■/ x This motion was also earned unanimously. Mr Reid referred to the humiliating position in which the Misses Gubb and Mrs and Mr Edwin Gubb had been placed by the action of their father. He had known Mr Edwin Gubb for twenty years. No more loyal man than he stood in Port Albert. He desired to extend to them, on behalf of this mooting, its sincere appreciation of their loyalty. (Frolonged applause.) Mr Edwin Gubb feelingly thanked the audience for their manifestation of sympathy. Jt was resolved that the foregoing resolutions be embodied ill a letter oi protest to he forwarded to the Prime Minister through the member for the district, with a request that in view of the widespread and increasing unrest caused by the presence of this person, his removal be urged with all possible despatch.