PUBLIC SAFETY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1932, Page 5

PUBLIC SAFETY

BILL INTRODUCED

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

(By Telegraph—Ber Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 20. Described as an Act to make provision -for the protection of the community fin cases of emergency, the Public Safety Conservation Bill was in-. 1 reduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. It empowers the Gov-

ernment, where circumstances warrant, to declare*ft .state of emergency, and regulations may be made by Ordev-in-Council to give effect ,to the provisions of the Bill. The regulations so made arc to bo submitted to Parliament as soon as possible. Anyone guilty of -an offence against the regulations shall be -liable, on a summary conviction before a magistrate, to imprisonment for three months, or ia fine of £IOO or both. Special provisions apply pending the issue of the proclamation of an emergency. It is .provided that if the provisions of ’the Bill cannot be put into operation immediately in tbe event of a public emergency, the senior officer of the police force in the affected locally shall assume responsibility for issuing all orders necessary for the propervntion of life, the protection of property, and the- maintenance of orde". The 'authority provided under the Bill applies ito any emergency arising from earthquake, fire, flord or public disorder. Protection is given to persons acting under authority of the proposed Act, or its regulations. No proclamation shall remain in force for move than one month without prejudice /to the issue of another proclamation at or before the end of that period. Moving the second reading, the Premier, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said that there was need for the provision of a rallying point in times of emergency, whether it were caused by civil commotion, fire, flood, or earthquake. No exception could he .taken to the steps proposed, as it would be the desire of everyone .'thaj: -there would be adequate power for the maintenance of law and order. The provisions of the Bill would apply only while there was a state of emergency, created by Order-in-Council. As ‘soon as the order was lifted, the emergency powers would Bapse

Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Cent.), said thait the Government's legislation was making a deep .wound in the hearts o* the peop]p. and thatwound would not be healed with -the baton. The people of Auckland were not uncivilised, but were quite prepared 'to live decent, civilised lives, and they were entitled to work, or to sufficient sustenance ito “keep the wolf from the door.”

Mr Burry nsHerted that it was a dangerous ‘thing tl'ov the Governmotf; to pursue a policy 'that meant empty cupboards, empty wardrobes, and d>smal hopes. It should sat out to remove the bitter spirit that prevailed among the* peopleThe Leader of the Opposition (Mr 11. Holland) criticised 'the provision in the Bill that the ordinary rules of evidence were not to apply to the hearing of jiases uiuc’/m’ this deg] laf-on, asserting that rights which were granted to a 'burglar, or oven a child-ravisher were to be denied in the case of an alleged political offence. It would appear that the mere laying of a charge would be sufficient to secure a conviction. Mr Holland declared that window smashing and looting were wholly unjustifiable and only provided would-be dictators of the present day with an excuse for having redress to tar more drastic •measures than Would otherwise be the ease.

Hon. .T. G. Coates referred to the resolution moved bv Mr Parry at the Iha hour Conference, calling for steps to be taken to organise unemployed civil service organisations, and public opinion generally, by way of demonstration to compel the Government 'to alter its present policy of reducing the standard of living. The Minister insisted that the responsibility for demonstration must rest with those who organised it. He said that the Government had been returned with a free hand, and unless an endeavour was made to meet the present position, those, for whom .Labour members were professing sympathy, would suffer the most. The Bill was read the second time bv 46 votes itp 21, and put through the remaining stages and passed. The House rose at 5.8 a,m. BILL PASSES THE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, April 20. Tin* Legislative Council met at 10. W), and passed the Public Safety Conservation Mill without amendment. The Council rose at 11.13 until Tuesday next.