HOW WE TREAT THEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 14 January 1915, Page 7

HOW WE TREAT THEM.

CUE PRISONERS 01-' WAII. •EXISTENCE OX MOTUIIII ISLAND LOT CAST IX PLEASAXT PLACES.

The Xew Zealand method of treating ptisoncrs of war has evoked no small amount ol discussion during recent Weeks. According to the man in the street, or some of his kind, the forei"ners under detention in Auckland arc being veritably nursed in tin- lap of luxury. The otlicial retort is "Xo such tbnig.' An interesting visit to the island where the Germans ale was made recently by a representative of the Auckland Star, and an opportunity was presented of inspecting the prisoners' quarters just after the midday meal. As a result one is inclined to think that if tile (.lenient of luxury comes in at all it is to lie found in the beauty of the surroundings rather than in 'the lavIf )h nat 'ire. of the furnishings or the richness of the fare. At the same time. prisoners—or at least those ranking as "first-class''—have been made reason" ably I'umlortablo.

IAMOXG THE POIIUTUKAWAS. Readers who are familiar with the scenic attractions of Motuihi Island, ten miles down the harbor from Auckland city, will readily understand that with the most primitive arrangements life may lie made to pass very pleasantly in tie nunier season, .lust now the shelter. d half-moon beaches are fringed with the llori<l bloom of the pobutukawa, and m sunlight or moonlight there is a serenity which must cause the prisoners to count it a privilege to have been interned m so delightful an environment. Ihey make good use of the beach,.s for walking, and of the sea for bathing, and Irom casual observation "I'pcar to be making Mie best of an' unfortunate position. There are 37 of them I / in the tirst-class quarters, and the remainder in the second-class. All are <.crmans with one exception, and he is an Austrian.

LIKE A HAPPY FAMILY. As the launch drew near the jeUv three Germans Were observed to pull ui! their fishing lines and walk awav. There is a regulation that thev nmst.' not, lion the jetty while a vessel is there. V\ hen questioned as to their luck with the schnapper. „„„ „f the trio remarked m good English that they had only managed to land one. Sometimes they are more fortunate. Later on the prcisman was shown over the juarters. The firstclass prisoners had risen from luncheon at a common table in a Jong, narrow room on the ground-floor of a weatherworn double-storey structure which formerly served as a quarantine hospital. A number of men, healthy, of good physique, and neatly attired, had gone into the sunshine to smoke and chat a few; were seated in a smoking-room upstairs, while others were in their bedrooms. They seemed happy.

FARE AXD Ft'RXTSrnXGS. Regarding the food, one was told that it was wholsomc, but not rich. It would cost something like three and sixpence per day per prisoner. The furnishings ivcre seen to be plain, yet comfortable, l.onev had not been spent on floor coverings, for instance. IA few seats of the (lock-chair variety helped to adorn the smoking-room, together with some small tallies tor writing, etc. The bedrooms ivere cleanly lincncd. and for purposes of comparison, they might be likened to those of the second-class boardinghouse. Three double rooms were occupied by a trio of prisoners whose wives had voluntarily come from Samoa to join them, Each of the others had single apartments. Thus is the transplanted aristocracy of Samoa quartered.

XAVAT, CADETS AXD OTHERS. On the same headland, comniandin"' an uninterrupted view of the distant city, is a second building somewhat like the lu'st. only smaller, wherein the second class prisoners are domiciled. This nas at one time used for the housin" of mental hospital patients. When the visil01- passed through, some of the number were washing up after a meal, which had left them in good spirits. They happened to he naval cadets who fell into the hands of the British when returning to Samoa under the erroneous impression that the island had passed hack into the hands of the Germans. These stalwart Germans seem to be in perfect health, and, like their more favored comrades, are meeting the situation as cheerfully as possible/' They do not sleep in separate, rooms or possess easy '•hairs, lmt by their own handicraft some of the men have provided themselves with neatly-carved chess boards for tables), while others have added the ornamentation of ship models, etc. The cadets perform physical exercises with regularity and arc fond of fresh air.

SEASIDING TERRITORIALS. Whereas the officer in charge (Captain Wintlirop) occupies the same quarters as tlie first line of prisoners, the 27 Territorials who form the guard, arc quartered in a third building about a hundred yards distant. As"in the case of tlie other buildings, there is a cooking outfit, which includes a range, and the men shift for themselves. They appear to be enjoying the experience. Their pay—ss a day—reaches them regularly. In the daytime the guards extend over various parts of the island over which the prisoners are allowed a fairly free run. That is between breakfast and tea-time. Afterwards, the outer guard is chiefly concerned in watching the landing-places of the island. One learns that the prisoners are amenable to discipline. and give the guard a minimum of trouble. When they first arrived from Samoa, they felt the cold rather keenly, but summer weather pleases them. COMPETITIVE AGRICULTURE.

Tn their fondness for exorcise, some of the prisoners go beyond tlie relaxation of bathing, fishing, walking, shellpfntliorinpf and sundry hobbies. Among the number is a professor of agriculture and an island planter. Each lias been given o plot of ground, and tlie former netting to prove to tlie latter that scientific methods are more valuable than the practical. Tlie doctor is introducing the use of liquid manures, chop-ned-up weeds, etc., and time alone will hear witness to the results of the interesting experiment. T3ot,h men spend a considerable part of their time on the selections, and Ihcy are occasionally joined by other seekers after exercise. 'Among these latter ia the ex-Governor of Samoa, who. by the way, has been allowed to retain his servant and to have the use of a double room —two small compartments primitively knocked into one. There is an idea in the minds of the prisoners that under the terms of the Hague Convention they should be on parole, but the authorities obviously think otherwise.

brations of a different kind on the; little island which is in sight, but out of liearhig. Christmas Eve was the biggest occasion for the Germans. They donned their white frock coats—those who possessed them—and were allowed to hold a. family gathering in one of the guard rooms, on which occasion the ex-Govern-or quietly addressed them. A concert followed, when officers and men of the guard were present by request. Anion}; the number who took pari) was an Austrian of distinct ability as a violinist. The Territorials have a piano, but the prisoners have not, and they are thus dependent on their Austrian comrade for any music they enjoy. This they naturally appreciate in the completeness of their isolation, ''Far from the in.uldiug crowd's ignoble strife."