Police Entry And Arrest Without Warrant

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1948, Page 7

Police Entry And Arrest Without Warrant

S

-Reuter*

CoziyriQhtj

BRISBAKB/March 10. ' Powers to the police to arrest without wararnt any oll'ender who refuses to give his true. name and address, apu the right for any police. oliicer over the rank of sergeant, to enter, by force it necessary, any land or premises where he tliinks an oli'enee against the Acl is being committed, aie given in an emergency Bill to ban strike pickets and mtimidation passed by the t^ueensland Pariament at 2 o'clock this morning, azter a night sitting. The Bill was agreed to 51 votes to 3, the only tlissentients being one Communist and two lndependent niembers, and will go to*the Governor for Royal assent to-day. Speedy action was made easier, be; cause Queensland has only one Parliamentary' House. The Government belie/es that when these powers are used, the Queensland railway strike, now in its 37th day wilJ collapse. Under the new law persons who defy the police by loitering near their places of empioyment or the worlcers' homes will be liable to a line of £100 or six months' imjirisonnient, or both. The Bill prohibits picketing, verbai or written tlireats, ofl'ensive or insuiting words, including' ' ' scab, ' ' thc^ ' carrying- of banuers or placards, counselling persons to leave their work, and the inducing of any person to leave work or to refrain from returning to work. It empowers the police to arrest without warrant any olfender who refuses to give his true name and address, and gives a police offieer of rank of sergeant or over the povver to enter by. force, if necessary, any land or premises where he thinks an olfencuagainst the Act is being committed. "MOST SWEEPTNG POWERS." These are the- most svveepiug power.^ever conferred on a police force ni Australia. Introdueing the Bill, the Preniier (Mr. Haulon) agaiu bitterly criticiseu tho Communists, wliom he lilained ' foi: organising the picketing and iuliniidation ' ' from one end of the country to the other. The people are sick to death of ' Commos. ' The people have ' had tliem,' and all- tlieir work. " He empliasised that the BiiL. was intended to deal only with unauthorised strilces. The Lord Mayor of Brisbane (Aldcrman Chandler) has suggested to two Brisbane Archibishops and the presulent of the Council of Churches Uiai they appeal for industrial peace on tJic day of prayer to be held next ►Siinday. The suggestion is lieing suppbrted cnthiisiastically by the Churches, MORE TRAINS RUN. The- Comihissip-kor s;of Railvvays - ce ports that 13,2 t'rainsLan yestcrdav In defiance lofi tlie sti;ik.e ibart,: conipaie.d with 102 the ' day t Before. ;i The Moremen .4;it(l packers have 4?*' cided th:af;-t^ey 'vvflUaiot Jiccept diiec- _ t i o iu liy . t,b err u nio n executive to cease • vvprk. at the-Hhell Conxjiany petrol j&fe-. ' ; . .Thie-V06innidnwealth.. I)ep.artnienl oi. Supply and . Bjiip'ping' ldis in'formcd New South •Wales State autharitios that, becausc ?of tlie strike, petrol .will'/ be made avaijable to enable the transport of essential goods by road from Sydney to Brisbane and the return fcrips. However, the Kew 8outh Wales Preinier (Mr. McGirr) and the Mini ter of Transport (Mr. O'Mullivan j iiave not made public their attilude to ;he Queeiisland dispute.