EMERGENCY POWERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 6

EMERGENCY POWERS

VITAL CHANGES IN LAW OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION SOUGHT (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. An opportunity for members to discuss the recent regulations made by Order-in-Council, if there was a general wish for such a debate, was promised by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, replying in the House of Representatives to-day to an urgent question asked by Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition. Tauranga). It was suggested by Mr Doidge that a day should be set apart for a debate upon the many vital changes in the law which had been imposed upon the country by Order-in-Council, and of which Parliament had no knowledge until they were in operation. . . “The House of Commons in Britain has refused no emergency power that the Government has asked for and justified," said Mr Doidge in a note to his question. “ The House, however, has never forgotten the duty of constant vigilance, by which the nation s liberties are guarded, and four times in one week recently members have criticised and secured amendments in emergency powers." “ I am sure the member for Tauranga does not intend to convey by comparison that the House neglects its duty to look after the interests of. the people and to safeguard their liberties with great vigilance." Mr Fraser replied. He had no objection to the regulations being discussed, all the more so at the present time, as the Address-in-Reply debate had been curtailed this year.