ORDER IN COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 8

ORDER IN COUNCIL

4 SYSTEM DEFENDED

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER (

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, March 28,

The use of the Order in Council method of setting'out details of legislation in which only the' broad principles are laid down was defended by the Prime Minister (the Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes) when addressing the Auckland Chamber of Commerce today.

-; "A remark made by me recently in regard to Orders in Council caused resolutions of protest to pour into my office," said Mr. Forbes. "The delegation by Parliament of legislative powers has been receiving a' great deal of attention within the past two or three years, for the most part of a critically unfavourable nature. Government by Order in Council has become a catchcry, the popular appeal of which has nx)t only tended to confuse the issue but threatens to become an oven greater danger in practical administration than the abuse of, powers delegated by Parliament. Delegated legislation, in spite of the popular belief of the moment, is no .new phenomenon. From tha time when Parliamentary enactments first became part of the law of England it has been necessary for Parliament to delegate certain powers of legislation, and it/is inevitable that the increasing complexity of modern life and government will necessitate an ever-increasing delegation. "I cannot be too emphatic in stating that neither present nor. any conceivable future New Zealand Parliament, could possibly refrain from delegating certain of its powers of legislation." said Mr. Forbes.

"In. particular, many of the matters which in the past two ydars have claimed the attention of Parliament, such as mortgage legislation, have been of such novelty, complexity, and technical difficulty as to necessitate Parliament dealing with matters of principle and leaving a host of matters of detail to be worked out by regulations. Subject matters that have Keen loft to regulations, in spite of what seems to be popular opinion to the contrary, have always been given most serious consideration not only by the departments concerned and the law-drafting office, but also by the Government itself. It is always possible that mistakes may be made.

"The Government is is much concerned as its critics to ensure that Parliament does not lightly delegate its powers, and it welcomes constructive criticisms of recent delegations by Parliament. .. • /

•• To be constructive, this criticism must be specific and not in vague general terms of condemnation." '