LENIENT TREATMENT OF GERMANS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 145, 22 June 1916, Page 5

LENIENT TREATMENT OF GERMANS.

PROTESTS IN PARLIAMENT.

WELLINGTON, June 21

Some very plain speaking regarding the lenient treatment and comparative freedom extended to prisonesr of war at Somes Island and Motuiki Island (at Auckland) were made id the House tins afternoon. The matter was brought up by Mr Poole in a question to the Defence Minister regarding a recent disturbance on one of the Wellington wharves between a prisoner of war and his guard. The Minister, in his reply, said the facts were not quite as had been reported in the newspapers, and steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Mr Poole said the leniency shown to prisoners was occasioning groat indignation, especially in Auckland. He read extracts from a letter which he had received from Auckland regarding the great latitude allowed to prisoners of war at Motuiki in visiting Auckland. The writer said that the other day a large party of picnickers (i.e., prisoners) arrived from the island with ''a few youthful guards." The letter proceeded: " From what I could see, there appeared to be no responsible officer in charge—just a few youths who wore chatting and laughing with the prisoners, and smoking fat The boat conveying them was a large, palatial launch, and just before the time of departure all hands were standing by as some of the prisoners, who evidently had urgent business in the city, were late. After waiting some time they arrived, and one would have thought it was the Admiral of the fleet and his staff going aboard." Mr Young, in endorsing the remarks of Mr Poole, said the manger of a well-known Auckland hotel had complained of the prisoners and their guards frequenting his house. "We do not want them," he said. "They drive our customers away. Let them give some-one else a show." Mr Young also referred to the fact that Herr Seegner (ex-German Consul in Auckland) who had been interned, had been released on the ground of ill-health. He asked why he could not be treated at the prison camp, seeing that there was at least one doctor of reputed skill amongst the prisoners there. Mr Herdman, who replied, owing to the absence of the Defence Minister, said that it had been reported by Col. Talbot, medical office]- at Auckland, that Herr Seegner was very dl. The Minister for Defence had asked Sur-geon-General Henderson to examine Herr Seegner, and he confirmed Col. Talbot's report. The man was suffering from diabetes and could not recover. Therefore he was allowed to return to his home in Auckland, where he was watched by either a soldier or a constable. He claimed that this was only a humane act.