PUBLIC SAFETY BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 203, 20 April 1932, Page 5

PUBLIC SAFETY BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT

("Post" Special Commissioner)

state of emergency WIDE POWERS SOUGHT FOR PRESERVATION OF LAW AND ORDER ENGLISH ACT FOLLOWED

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. . The Govtemment's proposals for dealing with outbreaks of lawlessness simi'lar to 'last week's rioting ,'n Auckland were submitted to the House of Representatives this afternoon in the Public Safety Conservation Bill. The Prime Minister's ino'tion that urgency should be accorded the passing of the Bill was challenged) by the Labour Party, but was carried on a division -by 41 votes to '20 votes. "This Bill is drafted generally on the lines of the Imperial Emergeney Powers Act, 1920," stated Mr. Forbes in moving the second reading. "Its purpose is to enable the GovernorGeneral to make regulations to preserve law and order in cases of emergeney. "The emergencies contemplated are civil strife on an extensive scale and also emergencies due to natufal disaster, such as earthquake, fire or flood.

Issue of Proclamation "In the event of any such emer1 gency happening, or being considered imminent, the Governor-General, by proclamation approved in Executive Council, may proclaim a state of emergeney. Such proclamation may be general, applying to the whole of New Zealand, or may be limited to the particular area or areas directly affeeted. "When a state of emergeney exists, the Governor-General is empowered to make all such regulations as may be necessary for the preservation of life and the maintenance of law and order. Such regulations may be limited in the same manner as the proclamation of the „ emergeney to the locality partieularly affected. All regulations made under this authority must be laid before Parliament at the earliest possible date and if they are not confirmed by resolution of both Houses within fourteen days thereafter they cease to operate.

Penalties for Offences. "Offences against the regulations are punishable on summary conviction (befoi-e a stipepdiary magistrate only) by fine not exceeding £100 or by imprisonment for not more than three months or by both such fine and imprisonment. "Provision is made for the interval hetween the time of happening of the - natural disaster or outbreak of disorder and the issue of a proclamation of emergeney in respect thereof. During such interval the senior officer of police in the locality at the time is directed to assume control and to issue all necessary instructions and orders for the protection of life and property and the maintenance of order. "There is a clause indemnifying the Government and all persons acting under authority of the Act or of regulations thereunder, from civil liability for their actions done in good faith, but the clause confers the right to compensation where private property is utilised for the common necessity." Full Powers Essential The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) : Have you not got all the powers at the present time ; that are embodied in the Bill? Mr. Forbes: "I am informed 'No'." j The Prime Minister said it was es- j sential, in case of sudden emergeney, ; that the necessary power should exist ! to preserve law and order. The Auck- 1 land disturbance, which was the worst in New Zealand's history, showed there was a weakness in law, although the emergeney had been handled with judgment and tact. In conclusion, Mr. Forbes said he thought it could be safely left to those in authority to see that the Act was properly administrated. The power would be exercised with judgment and nothing would be done other than was absolutely necessary to ensure public safety. Labour's attitude to the Bill was summed up by Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland, Central), and Mr. J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn), the first two speakers from the Opposition benches. Mr. Parry said it did not say much for the Government that it had to •depend on a Bill providing for a state of emergeney. The Government'spolicy was responsible for the state of affairs which existed to-day. He had heard people ready to excuse, although not to approve of, what had taken place in Auckland. Ilt was no use batoning men home to empty cupboards. The people had a right to hold a meeting and take their grievances to the Government. This was the safety-valve of democracy. Sustenance Advocated The Government, by refusing to put into operation the sustenance clauses of the Unemployment Act had broken the law. Had sustenance been paid in . the event of work not being provided, the trouble in Auckland would not have occurred. The Labour Party stood for law and order and he and his eolleagues had gone amongst the people persuading them to adopt a commonsense attitude. He hoped the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works would visualise the national discontent against present conditions and make adequate provision for the unemployed, who were civilised men and women and should be treated as such. The Government had no right to ask the unemployed to line up at food depots like pigs round a trough. Mr. Lee said the- outburst1 at Auckland was absolutely unpremeditated and showed the explosiveness of the public mind. He had realised for the first time the feeling that prevailed. Such trouble could not be controlled by batons, but bjr an intelligent policy of organising the moral forces, and hot the physical forces, of the State. He suggested that under the Bill at would be possible to proclaim a virtual dictatorship. He would not say the Government would abuse the pow-

ers of the Bill, but if it ignored the situation and refused to take proper remedial measures, believing that under the Bill it could baton the people into submission, it would have a grave and profound awakening.