A RECRUITING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 309, 8 June 1915, Page 3

A RECRUITING PROBLEM.

To the EditoT,

»Sir,—lWe read of the magnificent achievements of the British Tommies, of the heroic charges of different regiments, of the brilliant operations of the New Zealand reinforcements were pracof the courageous exploits performed by our gallant Allies in the field of bat-tle—-oil such incidents tending to stimulate recruiting. Apparently that is correct. But according to a Christtfnrrch report we find that an incentive to recruiting is not found in the fatce report spread by a person there / thatH" Tll e P>™t, .Second and Third New Zealand reinforcements were practically decimated." This, the report adds, was detrimental to recruiting, and the person concerned was arrested accordingly. Funnv, isn't it? —I aim, etc, " R. A. HARTNETT. Mt. Messenger, June 7.

ABOUT TSB ALIENS.

To the Editor.

Sir,—To one living well away from the j large centres of the Dominion, it is impossible to form an accurate opinion as to tho truth or otherwise of the statements made in reference to the laxity of the Government in Its treatment of alien Germans and Austrians. Report after report reaches the outside districts of Germans occupying responsible positions, even in the civil service of New Zealand. I am writing you, Sir, hoping that you will let your readers know what the position really is. If there are such cases, and aliens are sitting tight drawing fat salaries in this Dominion, it is an outrage tfhat should not be tolerated another day. (May I quote the following reported particulars of one case only. It is alleged that on the professorial staff of the Victoria College, Wellington, there is an alien German. Report has it that this alien was arrested and placed on Somes Island. So far so good; but it is further alleged that 'because of his connections he was released from Somes Island and allowed to re-seat himself in his college chair and continue drawing his fat salary paid in British coin. Now, Sir, I want to know (and I think the public would like to know) whether this report is true. Do you know anything of it? If these are the facts, then I shall, with your kind permission, further refer to the matter in a (future issue. This, of course, is only one case. If an alien German, simply because he has influential friends in and around the Reform Cai'bnet, and also because he moves within tho sacred limits of the higher circles, is to receive treatment different to that which would be meted out to a man in dungarees, it is time some strong language was circulated on the matter. Tn the meantime, I content myself with this short note and await whatever information you may have available.—l am, etc.,

AV. 11. H. HAWKINS.

Tataraimaka, June 7, 1915. [We are in possession of no definite information regarding the matter. Reference to the Minister for Internal Affairs would probably elicit the particulars desired. The Doard set up recently to deal with aliens, however, may be depended upon to protect the interests of the country in the. matter of aliens, of high or low estate.—Ed.]