CONTROL IMPOSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 17 November 1939, Page 9

CONTROL IMPOSED

PHOTOGRAPHY IN N.Z. DEFENCE PRECAUTIONS PERMITS REQUIRED (Per Pross Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The object of the Photography Emergency Regulations, 1939, which were issued last night, was the subject of a statement by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. "These regulations, which were approved in the Executive Council on Wednesday, were rendered necessary,” he stated, “because of the undesirability of allowing complete freedom to take photographs of places which, it is considered, are vital to the defence of the Dominion. \

“Under the regulations a permit must first be obtained before a photograph can be taken of any fortification, aerodrome, barracks, arsenal, telegraph station, dock or dockyard controlled by His Majesty's Government, warship or ship exclusively used in the service of His Majesty, defensively-equipped merchant vessel, any aircraft, any building, structure, vessel or other object damaged by enemy action, or any road exclusively used in connection with works of defence. The making of sketches or designs or other representations or reproduction of any of these from copies already in existence is also prohibited.

Granting of Permits

“Permits.to take photographs may be granted,” continued Mr. Jones, “by any officer of His Majesty’s forces who is authorised in that behalf by the Naval, Army or Air Boards. Applications for permits should be made either to the local naval, military or air force authority, or to Naval, Army or Air Secretary, Wellington, according to whether the object or place which it is desired to photograph or to make a sketch or design of is within the jurisdiction of the naval, militax'y or air force authority.

“As well as requiring a permit to fake a photograph, it also is necessary to obtain the written consent of the Director of Publicity or some person acting on his behalf before the publication of any such photograph can be made.

“It will readily be appreciated,” said the Minister, “that it is most undesirable to allow photographs to be taken freely of places, the information concerning which may be useful to our enemies. Every effort will be made, however, to meet the reasonable wishes of the public."