DOMINION ORDERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 9

DOMINION ORDERS

PARLIAMENT. TOLD PRECAUTIONARY ACTION MOBILISATION POWERS CENSORSHIP IMPOSED PRICE STABILISATION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. During the greater part of yesterday afternoon, the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, from hie House of Representatives and interest seemed to be lacking in the debate on the estimates. Mr. Fraser, however, returned to his seat in the chamber at b. 15 and he.-i a hiuried conference with the Chief Government Whip, Mr. J. O’Brien who, in turn, consulted the Chief Opposition Whip, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, was in turn consulted by Mr. Kyle and the debate came to a sudden termination at 5.18 when progress was reported by the Chairman of Committees, Mr. R. McKeen.

Mr. Fraser intimated that he had an important statement to make. The Speaker, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, returned to the chair and Mr. Fraser read the following statement:— State of Emergency

“I wish to state that His Excellency, Lord Galway, has to-day, on the advice of his Minister, proclaimed a state of emergency under the Public Safety Conservation Act, 1932. “The proclamation is entirely a matter of machinery and amounts to nothing more than an obviously precautionary measure. The position is that, unlike many other Dominions, the New Zealand Defence Act contains no adequate provision authorising the making of those Orders-in-Council which obviously become necessary in time of a crisis. All such draft Orders-in-Council, therefore, have accordingly been drafted under the Public Safety Conservation Act and this Act, which authorises such measures, does not come into operation until the proclamation of an emergency has been issued. The proclamation is accordingly now made for the sole reason that it is desired to obtain authority to make any necessary Ordors-in-Council.

“I wish to stress the fact that the proclamation of an emergency does not indicate any special developments in the international situation and, indeed, that proclamation would not have been made had it not been required for the purpose of the statutory authority referred to above. “The Government is keeping closely in touch with the situation and all the necessary Orders-in-Council will be made if and when the circumstances are such as to render this desirable. In the meantime, as a precautionary measure, Orders-in-Counc'l have been passed making the regulations which will be duly Gazet f ed as follows: —

Adequate Censorship

“Censorship and publicity regulations which will enable the Government to exercise adequate censorship over the means of communication, both telegraph and postaj, as well as enabling control to be established over any iriat*er which may be published in the press or by the broadcasting services, by the films and, generally, by any media which can be used for conveying information to the public. The regulations are to be administered by the Controller of Censorship and Director of Publicity, the former of whom will be fresponsible for the telegraph and postal censorship and the latter for publ ; - ity and control of the press general);-. So far as publicity is cone rned, the Government desires to state that although full power is taken 'o excr else control, this will be secured as far as possible by the active cooperation of the press and other agencies concerned who have already co-operated in a manner which has earned the gratitude of the Government.

“Naval mobilisation emergency regulations and naval mobilisation emergency regulations amendment No. 1 thereto which will enable the Naval Board'to call up for service any member of the naval reserve.

“Shipping control emergency regulations which give power to the Naval Board of New Zealand to issue instructions to ships for the purpose of ensuring 4 he safety of vessels. Defence emergency regulations which wiil enable the army to call out cither the whole or portion of the territorial forces or Class 2 of the ?TT‘ory Reserve 'f and when the pnaTon should require this step. “Power i • rl'o giv n in *hese rc'o e*-ablc the army authori- *• *o enter upon any land to erect any necessary defences, or to make use of any land which may ba needed for military purposes. Air Force Reserves The prociomat'ons have nl~o ber > signed tran ferring the Air Force Reserve to the regular air force and d - daring the regular Territorial Air Force to be liab! for continuous -.r-r-’cc In New- Zealar.d. The purpose'of ‘.hose proclamations is to give newer to call up members who may be required for immediate service shout.! the occasion-necessitate. “Price stabilisation emergency regulations ftave been made s’abilising pries as from to-day.’’ The Minister added: “I want to reiterate what I said at the commencement of the statement that these measures are taken as precautionary measures.” There has been no exceptional development of the international situation and the powers embodied in these regulations will be exercised with care and caution and with the maximum consideration of