“Washing-Out” War Legislation

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 139, 2 September 1927, Page 16

“Washing-Out” War Legislation

SURPRISE OPPOSITION PROTEST ON ALIEN TEACHERS (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. to a provision of _ the War Disabilities Removal Bill came as a surprise to the Minister in charge of the measure, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, this evening, when the Bill was considered in the committee stage. Mr. A. Harris took exception to the repeal of the Enemy Alien Teachers Act, which he said was passed in 1915, with strong public Reeling behind it, to make sure that enemy aliens should not have the training of our children. He recalled the case of a German professor at Victoria University College, who had insisted, on his appointment, on retaining his German nationality. If that man was a menace in 1915, he must still be a menace in 1927. He regretted exceedingly that the Government had thought it a duty to bring down a Bill of this kind now. It was simply stultifying the Act of 1915. If it were right to remove the disabilities now, an injustice had been done by the passing of the Act in 1915.

Mr. Harris moved that provision for the repeal of the Enemy Alien Teachers Act should be deleted, but the motion was lost on a division by 47 votes to 13, and the Bill was passed through committee stage. Mr. Harris repeated his protest on the third reading, and said that the Government might have told the House how many people the Bill was going to affect. Mr. G. R. Sykes said that it was time for the healing of many wounds, though the scars might remain. Mr. Rolleston could not understand why the repeal of this particular Act should have been subjected to a hostile vote. Members seemed to have overlooked the fact that the Act was intended only for the duration of the war with Germany, and had been extended year by year since. Since 1925 Great Britain had removed all war measures. It was not at all likely that people who were anti-British in their feelings would get teaching appointments. Though it was six weeks since the Bill was introduced, he had not until now heard of a single protest, which was surely an indication that the country approved.

The Bill was read a third time, and passed. •