OFFICIAL SECRETS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 5

OFFICIAL SECRETS.

MYSTERY LEGISLATION. REASONS NOT DISCLOSED. BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. By T«l*graplJ.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. An unusual procedure was adopted in the House to-night, when the Minister of Justice (the Hon. E. P. Lee) moved the second reading of the Official Secrets Bill. He explained that in 1911 the Imperial Government passed an Act which stipulated that if any Dominion passed a similar Act then the local Act would hold good in that Dominion and not the Imperial Act. In 1920 the Imperial Government passed an Act for which no reasons were assigned to the Imperial Parliament. Members were simply told they must accept the Minister’s word that the Bill was necessary, and on that understanding the Bill was passed. The reasons for this Act had been transmitted to the New Zealand Government confidentially, and so he could not reveal them. He could only ask the House to accept his word that the Bill was necessary, as was done in the case of the Imperial Parliament. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), in criticising the Rill, commented upon the enormous powers which it conferred upon the Attorney-General. Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party) said it was an exi,raordinary thing that at the end of the session the Government should bring down a Bill like this and ask the House to pass it blindly. There may be members who would be willing to shut their eyes and open their months and take whatever the Government liked to give them, but it would not suit the Labor benches. He said the Bill was really a war measure, but New Zealand was not at war with anyone. The Bill was really Prussian law. It was simply filling the country with suspicion and informers, and the House was wasting precious time in considering such a measure, wh+rii abrogated the jury system, giving to a judge or magistrate powers which should belong to a jury only. He could not understand how any Government could put such a law into force in peace time, and the House ought to be told why they were asked to pass it. He, -tor one, was not going to legislate with his eyes shut. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) complained that no information had been given to the House regarding the Bill. He would not vote against the second reading,’ but he would oppose clause. 18. which took away the right of trial by a jury. Mr Massey said he proposed to refer the Bill to a special committee for review. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) said the House must be careful to preserve the cardinal principles of justice, and therefore he was glad to hear the Premier say he proposed to refer the Bill to a committee. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said the Bill took them back to the old days of “the star chamber.” It was the worst Bill he hacr ever seen introduced into the House, and he hoped it Would be aiAended from end to end. Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) wondered why there was so much urgency about the Bill. It could be put on the statute book in five minutes it a crisis should arise. Though he was a staunch loyalist there were many provisions of the Bill he did not like. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.