The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1918. THE TREATMENT OF ALIENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1918. THE TREATMENT OF ALIENS.

It, is not surprising to find that the Taranaki Patriotic Association has brought before the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Patriotic Societies the unrest arising out of the undue advantages secured by sous of aliens. The Board was requested to approve of a permit asking for a satisfactory explanation relative to sons of alien born parents being discharged from camp wihen they have undergone a course of training and are, apparent;", lit, and advocating that such men shouiu not receive all the benefits of citizenship when other men aie forced to serve at considerable personal sacrifice. It was suggested by the Taranaki representative (Mr. L. Spratt) that these sons of aliens should be put under military discipline, and given home service work. This view evidently commended itself to the members of the board, it being decided to interview the Minister on tlhe matter. There is no question aa to the bitterness of feeling caused in Taranaki over, these sons of aliens being allowed to go free of all service to the country of their adoption, and to derive material benefits from the absence, 011 military service, of the sons of loyal British parents, many of whom have had to sacrifice their farms and the profit therefrom, in order to do their duty for the Empire. The matter is one that slliould have been promptly and fully dealt with immediately after the outbreak of war, and it has been abundantly evident d'rom then until now that there was bound to "be trouble unless a •' firm but just policy was adopted in solving tliis difficult and delicate problem, considering the large number of aliens—naturalised and unnaturalised—living in the 'Dominion. In the light of revelation and pronouncements that have been made it is difficult to take that charitable view of the inoffensiveness of these aliens (especially those of German extraction) which appears to have animated both the British and Dominion Governments. It has been claimed that naturalisation does not remove the obligation of service to tlieir country of origin so far as Germans are concerned, but the German Empire is made up of several races, and while there is no doubt that Prussians invariably preserve the tlu, it is well known that the Saxons who have left Germany—many of them to evade military service—have no desire to support German claims or serve as' pawns of the German authorities- Xbere are many of this class in I\ew Zealand, and they have proved good citizens, but there also a considerable number of anti-British among our alien population. The difficulty has been, and will be, to discriminate between the sheep and the goats. It is even more difficult to frame a general scheme that will meet the eases of the hostile, the friendly and the indifferent aliens. The principle hitherto adopted seems to based on the personal discretion of the individuals, leaving U 'for neighbors to act as voluntary jJe- 1

tocUveu in regard to disloyally of •licn><. Obviously this is not only invidious, but Un-British, lor no right-minded pi-r>on will act as spy- Tlio position, therefore, is tliat a hostile alien who if cunning enough lo keep up the appearance of loyalty lo Britain may actually tie the centre of a wide circle of treachery that may cost the country very dearly. It is useless to ,blink at the fact that every mail carries letters to the Uerm'Sui authorities (not direct, of course) in various countries under assumed

names, giving useful information lo the enemy. It is part of the German jmethods that has served her so well ill the past. That, however, is only part of the question, and though it hears materially on the main point, it is the general policy that is at fault. The practice of discriminating between naturalised and unnaturalised aliens would, under normal circumstances, lie quite justifiable, but in the case of Hermans the war lias put normality out of court, for the very eulUcient reason that a German cannot dissolve his native tie. It would seem, therefore, expedient to treat all aliens 011 the same basis. Those who can prove tllieir loyalty to Britain and are fit and willing to serve in the army should, if acceptable lo the authorities, be trained'and sent to the front, while all others without exception should 'be employed oti such useful work aa will assist the country in its war work, and be under due surveillance, especially as to correspondence, thut will safeguard t'he Empire's interests. There is 110 occasion for harshness or imposing disabilities 011 their earning a living, hut whilst they arc in the Dominion it is only reasonable and just that they should make sacrifices at least equal to those made "by British residents. As matters are at present many of these aliens are absorbing the fruits of the sacrifices made hy our sons whereby a distinct injustice is perpetrated, and this State of affairs should no longer he permitted to continue. Jt used to be held that blood is thicker than water, but that theory is being entirely upset by the favorable treatment extended to these aliens. Among the naturalised aliens iir "'ew Zealand are to be found some excellent citizens who have helped forward the prosperity of the country as well as advancing tlioir own welfare. These sfliould be the first to show their loyally ■l>v upholding the need for sacrifice in the present time of stress, and they should also see the justice of any sound measure'that enforced equality of service and protecting the interests of those ■ who have gone or are going to the front. J here is uselul work for all those who, l'or reasons of nationality, cannot be placed in the army, and should be assigned snob worlf as will be helpful, in' stead of being allowed either to occupy positions in the public service or engage in occupations whtfreby they make money at the expense of those w7io have been enrolled in the fighting forces of the Dominion. The public will not be satisfied until this problem lias been satisfactorily dealt with.