ABSOLUTE CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 23370, 13 September 1939, Page 15

ABSOLUTE CONTROL

EMERGENCY BILL IRTRODUGED WIDE POWERS FOR GOVERNMENT RIGHT OF ENTRY AND SEARCH INCLUDED | I - HUM Oru I'AKI lAMKNTAIO UIM’OK Villi. J WELLINGTON, September 12. Extraordinary powers enabling the Government to assume absolute control of practically every phase of national activity, whether public or private, arc contained in the Emergency Regulations Hill, which was read a first time in Hie Mouse of Representatives last night. One of its far-reaching features enables machinery to operate for the control of prices and tho prevention of profiteering. The development, .standardisation, simplification, and certification of commodities processes and practices are also provided for, and the regulations already issued under the Public Safety Conservation Act, 1932, are validated and given indefinite currency. Emphasising the sweeping effect of the measure, Mr Fraser said its provisions were necessary and unavoidable. It would be the Government’s responsibility to see that the authority proposed in it was used wisely and not recklessly, LIST OF REGULATIONS. Regulations may also be made for any of the following purposes:— 1. Providing for the apprehension, trial, and punishment of persons offending against the regulations and for the detention of persons where it appears to be expedient in the interests of public safety or tho defence of New Zealand. 2. Authorising the taking possession or control or acquisition of any property and entering and search of any premises. 3. Providing for the modification or suspension of operation of any enactment. 4. Prescribing matters in respect of which fees are to be payable under tho emergency regulations, the amount of the fees, and the persons liable to pay them, as well as authorising the refund or remission if any fees payable. 5. Making such provisions ns may bo deemed necessary for the suppression, restriction, or control of enemy trade and making any provisions considered necessary to deal with enemy property. C. Providing for the control of prices and for prevention of profiteering as well as promoting the development of standardisation, simplification.' and certification in relation to commodities, processes, and practises. 7. Providing for the protection of debtors and for the regulation and restriction of legal proceedings, powers, and remedies.

8. Creating corporate bodies and prescribing their powers and functions. 9 Establishing courts and tribunals and conferring jurisdiction on any court or tribunal whether established under the regulations or otherwise. The emergency regulations will have extra-territorial operation. They will apply to all ships and aircraft in or over New Zealand and to all shins and aircraft registered in New Zealand, wherever they may be. Thev will also apply to all persons in the Dominion, as well ns.to persons on board New Zealand shins or aircraft, and to persons employed outside New Zealand on New Zealand ships or aircraft.

Protection is provided for persons acting under the authority of the Bill or any regulations made under its power.

Breaches of the regulations will be punishable on summary convirtion by imprisonment for 12 months, a fine of £IOO. or both. The courts are given power to admit anv evidence they think Ft, irrespective of whether it would be admissible in other proceedings or not.

The release from custody of any person convicted pendinn the hearing of an appeal is prohibited except with the consent of the Attor-ney-General.

“Tliis Bill is a very_ important and far-reaching measure in the present crisis,” said Mr Fraser. _ “It is as far-reaching as the regulations already, passed under the Public Safety Conservation Act. The main reason for having this legislation introduced is that that Act, while very useful in a sudden emergency, is not so well suited to regulations that may have to last for the period of the war.” Members would perhaps recollect that the Public Safety Conservation Act was passed in 1932 to deal with conditions that had been induced internally, and was entirely for the preservation of law and good government. The proclamations made under that Act could not continue in force for more than one month. Therefore, although the Act was convenient for the initial purposes of the war regulations, New Zealand had to adopt similar measures to those taken by the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and Canada in the present emergency. Air Coates: I suppose it follows closely the 1914 emergency legislation ?

Mr Fraser: Not in all respects. These regulations are framed upon the British Bill to a large extent. It is unavoidable that whatever Government is in power there should bo extensive powers of controlling almost every one of our activities. A good many of the regulations already promulgated do that. “ I hope that the yoke will bo easy and the burden light,” said Mr Fraser to another interjection by Mr Contes. Mr Poison: Do you propose to take power to take over enterprises or businesses?

Air Fraser replied that the Bill contained a clause authorising the taking possession of. control, or acquisition pf any property and the entering and search of any premises.