ENEMY ALIENS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 August 1918, Page 5

ENEMY ALIENS.

To, the Editor. ... 'Sir,—(t was with feelings of disgust ‘ mingled with pity (for his ignorance*? when I read of ' unBritish attack upon “a storekeeper not a hundred miles from Mataroa.” If “Conscript” would cease listening to old women cackling and find out the true facts of the case for himself before rushing into print about some- ) thing of which'he is entirely ignorant | it would suit him better. There is no I excuse for “Conscript’s” ignorance in the least as an appeal is open to the’ public, and if he was so interested ho could have got the true facts of the j appeal. It might be some news to “Conscript” to know that the appeal | was not based on the grounds of be- i ing an unnaturalised subject of an alien enemy, but on the grounds of undue hardship and financial difficul- i ties. Further, the appellant was born in a British colony of naturalised parents and is therefore British by birth and naturalisation. As I happened to 1 be present at the appeal, and there- \ fore know what I am writing about, ! again “Conscript” attacks the people j who deal from this man. Well, “Conscript,* ’the people you condemn know what they are doing. it is a hard thing to say, but you are barking up the wrong tree. However, the information I have given “Conscript” would not interest him half as much as would the appeal of the Military Service Act. The boot must pinch somewhere. Is it because he himself can’t plead the alien racket and thereby escape the firing line. For shame. Sir. Play the game and take your medicine like a man, TBere is another portion of “Conscript’s” letter I will deal with before concluding He says, “Were he a producer the case might be different.” Let me tell “Conscript” that there are producers in this country British in name but aliens at heart, and it is amongst the so-called British producer that the alien is to be found. In conclusion, let me give “Conscript” some advice: Never rush into print about something you know nothing about, and in future believe nothing you hear and only half who* you sec.—l am, etc., “FAIR PLAY IS BONNY PLAY.”