ENEMY ALIENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1918, Page 5

ENEMY ALIENS.

.STATEMENT BY gßfaJlffimfr

Mr..G.,V, Pearce, MJ?. r b/i&uf&Sxifa the following letter from Sir Siaam Allen in reference to-alien «nemii6afc~ 'ln reply to your letter of tfiff SflifcK • inat., forwarding a resolution gasSeS,' % the Taranaki executive ©fiiftilS&^C' Zealand Farmers' Uninn, I beg rto-Snt form you ttlrat no transfers of <CSnAstf landa to enemy or douMful enemy omh jects are at present being ecaamaati. <by the Minister of Landss. In,4ftfl«flae| of freehold lands, under existing Iter, thero is no means of preventing such; 'transfers, and it is now proposed 4o> . | frame legislation to prohibit the-regis-tration by District Laud Registrars- fofj all such transfers without a certificate of approval from the Minister •of" Lands. With respect to mfEtarjj tec* vice, it is not possible to include aliens; in the New Zealand Expeditionary; Force, because the Militsry Servica , Act applies only to natural bom HrfflMil ' subjects. If the resolution is intended' to refer to-alien enemies, I would point out that the New Zealand Government is interning all those persons wfe> aifli considered to be dangerous or likely "tot be dangerous. If satisfied that a mgty although an enemy alien, is harmlesa and that he is producing food or other products necessary for the upkeep of the nation, what possible object can ■ there be in interning him, especially aa under the existing conditions tie can-< not he compelled to work, except on! light fatigue duties, in his camp of internment. In the event of the Imperial Government adopting more stringent' regulations, as a result of the recommendations of the committee which, it is understood has recently heen investigating the alien question in Great Britain, the New Zealand Government will immediately consider the advisability of taking similar action in this Dominion. In regard to Swiss residents in tho Toranaki district, you will aware that these people lave to be treated as neutrals unless it can be proved that they are alien enemies, and we have to keep within tho limits of international law in dealing with thesa matters. If the names of any doubtful cases are furnished to me, I shall. give instructions for a prompt and thorough 1 investigation as to their sa« tionality and loyalty."