ENEMY ALIENS’ QUESTION

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 31 May 1917, Page 5

ENEMY ALIENS’ QUESTION

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ VIEWS. DEMAND FOR CONSCRIPTION. The demand for the conscription of enemy aliens was supported by the Returned ‘ Soldiers’ Conference in Dunedin. The matter was brought before the conference by Major G. J. Rastrick, of Hamilton, who moved: “That the association as a whole should take up the question of enemy aliens being allowed to follow their private occupations, while British subjects are sent to the front and are liable to be called up. for national service in New Zealand in civil capacity.”

Major Rastrick said that of the aliens in the Dominion between SO and 90 per cent, were -in the Auckland Province. He noticed that the Auckland Farmers* Union, at its recent conference, had recommended that the aliens should be conscripted. These people were being permitted to go about and earn high wages and to take up. farms which were being vacated by men called up for active service. Some of them earned from £1 to 28s a day. This was not right, and these men were having the run of the country while the young men were away fighting for King and country. Th Government should be called upon to do its duty in this matter.

Mr. Haycock (Palmerston) said there Avas not the slightest doubt that the Government was 'too namby-pam-by in regard to this question. One thing he desired to bring forward was that of an important position held ,at Samoa by the son of a German. ; “It is a crying shame,” he said, “that such a position should be given to the son of an alien Avhen there are any number of returned soldiers Avho could hold the position. When the matter Avas brought forAvard the Government made the excuse that this man could speak the German language. I have spoken to the father of this man time and again before the Avar, and he Avas an out-and-out German. There are many positions held in New Zealand by Germans, and it is time a stop was put to this.”

Mr. Hoare, Marlborough, «said he knew something of this matter. He was at Samoa at the time of the landing, and the man in question, when his attention Avas directed to the fact that the German flag Avas flying from the German Club, said: “It’s all right.” The flag remained from 9 a.m. till the afternoon, Avhen a comrade and he pulled it. down, and, strange to say, nothing was said about their action. Major McKillop said he knew the officer in question, and a finer nor better soldier would be hard to find. He Avas a NeAv Zealander and a loyal Britisher.

Mr. Harper, Wellington, defended the Samoan officer, because he knew him to be a loyal Britisher. The motion was carried.

Major Rastrick moved further: ‘“That all aliens be conscripted for public service in New Zealand, and that they be paid at Expeditionary Force pay.”

Mr. Bruin seconded the motion which was carried.