THE ALIEN ENEMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1917, Page 3

THE ALIEN ENEMY.

FLOODING THE LABOR MARKETS. The attention of the Prime Ministet has been drawn in the House of Representatives by Mr. Okey, member for Taranaki, to the large number of alien ■subjects that are at present flooding the labor market, who are, Mr. Okey Btated, demanding the highest rate of wages. Mr. Okey asked Mr. Massey whether the Government will take immediate steps to commandeer all alien labor and compel them to work at wages in comparison with that paid to the men at the front during the term of the war and until the men forming the reinforcements are returned to the Dominion?

In a printed reply Mr. Massey stated it is impossible to commandeer all the alien labor as suggested, because many aliens are natives of countries which are our Allies or friendly to Britain. If the honorable gentleman will supply me with any specific eases of which he has had experience I slmll be glad to have them looked into, with a view to providing a remedy for the difficulty ■which exists. _ Mr. J. Vigor Brown (Napier) asked jMr. Massey whether the Government will pass a law to sequestrate all the estate of alien enemies and retain them in their present position where compatibl with public safety, and pay them the rates of military pay allowed to members of our fighting forces, using all the | balance and accrued profits for the bene- ! fit of our soldiers, widows, and dependents!

In reply Mr. Massey said the Government must keep within the limit of international law, huts each case to which the attention of the Government is directed will be dealt with on its merits.