NO TRAITORS WANTED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3319, 24 October 1919, Page 5

NO TRAITORS WANTED.

DR-ASTIC IMMIG‘R:ATION BILL. IMPASSIONED LABOUR PROTEST. WELLINGTON, Oct. 2:3. _ Though it was brief, "the second reading discussion on the Undesiraible Immi. grants Exclusion Bill‘was lively. The Prime Minister described the measure as very important. and dras--tic, but under the circumstances he considered it very necessary. Sir Joseph Ward said he was in full accord with ‘the proposal in the Bill to keep -out undesirables, but. pointed out that the measure centred ‘power in one man.to'send out of the country and keep out any persons whom he consid~ ered should for certain reasons be sent away. [lt was really perpetuating -the drastic conditions necessary in war time, and long after the war, and certain other conditions would have been completely -altered. Again, it continu. ed the passport system, which in general application was opposed to the British sense of freedom and personal security, though very necessary in war, time. He believed 'theßill;othough containing some excellent principles, should be ‘very carefully considered before being put on the ‘Statute Book. Mr Holland inveighed against the provisions of the Bill in passionately hostile terms. He con—tend‘ed that under it any extreme Christian could be turned back. If Professor De Valera came ‘from Ireland he" could be turned back from New Zealand. - Mr Massey: Yes-, he certainly would. He is a disloyal man, ' Mr Holland: Yes, and I suppose Carson_. a truly disloyal man, and a gunrunner from Germany, would be welcomed. ‘ X The member, in proceeding with his denunciation, said Mr Lloyd George, had come to these shores during the Boer War, could have been turned back as a clisafiected man. by the AttorneyGeneral ’s great power. A . ‘ Mr Massey, inreplying, ‘said it was-. intended that "the At't_orney—General should exercise a. ve_ry_grea.t deal of P.0“"3.1'-: . . I I Mr Semple: Despotic power, ‘ ’ ' Mr Massey: Someone‘ must "ha re power. The cla.use,.applies,. to no I'l3 )}'.'ic disatfectecl or disloyal no.v. As to Mr Lloyd George,'wllatever he may have been in the Boer War, nnrl he took up a L‘-‘;nr.g standing on what he ‘:ollsid\'re(l excellent grounds, he was never anyt'._iing Lin: loyal . Mr Smrple: He was dxsleuynl ‘it the time. " _ Mr Massey: No one ‘who has ever known or who knows Mr Loyd George will say he was ever anything but loyal to the land to which he belonged. The Premier then turned. to De Valera. “He is a ‘traitor, and has done more harm during the last two or three years than any other man in the Empire,” declared Mr Massey, adding: “There is no comparison between De Valera and Carson. Carson~h«a.s done more good and h-onourable work in a high post during ‘the war and sent his sons to the war.” Mr Holland: Do you approve of his threzxtened revolution? Mr Massey: There was n-o such thing as 2-. thr.e-aftened revolution, My Holland: Oh, was there’ not‘? Mr Massey: “Hehas made his mistelcs, like othermen; but was -always thoroughly loyal, and. did splendid [work during the war.” The Premier went on to remind ‘the House of Bri‘:.ain’s bitter experience during the war lof the enemy within her gates. (Hear, Lhear.) He declared that had the war i been delayed a few more years Britain would probaibly been so Grermanised that there could not have been been any war at all. We had need now to profit. by our bitter experiences, and ‘the Bill provided that no innnigrant should come. to New Zealand unless. like ourselves. 110 was loyal to the Elll- - to the flag. (Hear, hear.) He conceded the Bill was capable of amendment, but the principle was absolutely essential. I The second reading was carried on the voices. '