FASCIST SYMPATHISERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1940, Page 2

FASCIST SYMPATHISERS

A BIG ROUND UP. OF ISLAND BAY FISHERMEN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WELLINGTON, This Day. Though the seas were calm yesterday and omens propitious, the launches of the Island Bay fishing fleet lay at anchor, their crews ashore. Within a few hours of Italy's entry into the European war, all fishing boats at sea were recalled to port, while police carried out an extensive round-up of Italians known to be Fascist sympathisers. Island Bay possesses the biggest Italian colony in New Zealand, numbering some 300 souls. Practically all the 30 or more fishing launches which make their headquarters in the bay are Italian-owned and Italian-crewed. In addition, a big proportion of the local shopkeepers and tradesmen are Italians. Most are naturalised New Zealanders. Many are New Zealand-born, but many others are more or less recent immigrants.

The Italian tongue is commonly heard spoken in shop and street there. Such names as “Principe Umberto” or "St. Giuseppe” are painted on the boats. A few years ago, when the Fascist regime was still young in Italy and political feeling rose hot among them, stencilled posters of II Duce were to be seen on the walls of one or tw'o of the houses. Many of the Italians maintain close touch with friends and relatives in their homeland.

Yesterday morning many of the fishing, craft had already put to sea when they were signalled to return to port. The tender Janie Seddon, on examination duty at the Heads, went after the launches, < examined them and sent them back to the bay. For their seamen it was the first intimation that Italy was at war. Detectives promptly arrested a number of those known to be of Fascist sympathies, and removed them in cars for internment. The scene was a notable one. Though there was no sort of hostile demonstration —indeed, many Italians have come to regard New Zealand as their home, and express abhorrence of the Mussolini regime' as opposed to the interests of both the Italian monarchy 'arid the Church —there was keen excitement in the little fishing suburb of Wellington. Emotion ran high as friends and shipmates were taken away to internment for the duration of the war. Picturesque groups of fishermen, some in seaboots and jerseys, others in shore clothes, stood gesticulating and chattering volubly along the foreshore. Their dark, excited faces and abrupt gestures were in strong contrast with the calm, bulky figures of the police going about their duties.

Some of the internees waved and called “A rivederci!" to their friends when the cars moved oil', as though they were setting oil' for a pleasant holiday.

The round-up of Italians was, of course, the main topic of conversation in Island Bay yesterday, not only among their.compatriots but among all local residents. It is understood that among those interned were some who were naturalised New Zealanders, and even of New Zealand birth.