ALIENS IN THE NORTH.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 July 1917, Page 4

ALIENS IN THE NORTH.

REAPING WAR HARVEST.

A STRENUOUS PROTEST.

WHANGAREI, July 26.

A largely-attended public meeting

was held ac Ohaeawai to consider thfe niien question in the North. It wflS decided, alter considerable' ventilation of the subject, to adopt the following resolution:— "That this public meeting of residents of Ohaewai and surrounding districts, in view of the present position in New Zealand of enemy alien people, namely: first, that they are not liable under the provisions of the Military Service Act; second, that they are in many instances takYng, or proposing to take, advantage of the absence of able-bodieu men, and mea of the Second Division, either Co secure big wages or to purchase farms under forced sale conditions, owing to the present .owners being unable to hold their farms whilst on active service—recommends to Government that legislation be passed providing for such people, being called upon to take their part in the sacrifices entailed by the present war conditions, and expresses the opinion that a suitable method of their doing'so would be their employment at pre-war rates of wages upon lands to be allotted to returned soldiers, or upon other productive works." It was also decided that a copy of the foregoing resolution be forwarded to Mr. V. H. Reed, M.P., also that he be asked to take the matter in hand as Parliamentary representative of the district. Instances were cited at the meeting where Dalmatians were asking as much as 15s per day for unskilled work.