TEST PROPOSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 5

TEST PROPOSED

VALIDITY OF THE IMPORT REGULATIONS

PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENT. AUTHORITY TO BE TAKEN? (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. , An indication that if the validity of the import control regulations is successfully challenged before the Full Court the Government will not be slow to take steps to re-establish their validity was given by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, when he was invited to comment in an interview last evening on a report from Auckland that legal machinery has been set in motion to have the case tested by the Full Court. "What the Government has not authority to do it will soon have authority to do,” Mr Savage said when the report was referred to him. “That is all I will say about that at this stage.”

The Prime Minister's statement is understood to mean that if legislation is found to be necessary to withstand the challenge to the regulations the Government will not hesitate to summon a special session of Parliament, to place the issue beyond all doubt.

AUCKLAND DECISION

RULING BY FULL COURT TO BE SOUGHT. GOVERNOR-GENERAL ASKED TO ACT. AUCKLAND, January 10. A meeting attended by more than 400 representatives of importing houses and a sprinkling of manufacturers passed a resolution in Auckland today requesting the Go-vernor-General to issue a Proclamation that would nullify the operation of the import regulations till such time as the Full Court could hear evidence and decide upon the validity of the measures. It was announced that advice had been received from distinguished counsel who expressed the opinion that the regulations were invalid and could be upset on appeal. Accordingly, legal machinery has been set in motion to have the case tested by the Full Court. The meeting, which was held in public, was convened by the Bureau of Importers. “In my opinion, never before in a British country have the rights of the individual been so ruthlessly attacked,” said Mr W. A. Boucher, president of the bureau, who presided. “Import control regulations savour of the Dark Ages, and it behoves those of us who have spent a' lifetime in developing business to see that we are not destroyed in a swoop by a Government which seems to have a complete disregard for everything and everybody.” It was pointed out that importers were not permitted to make applications for licences for the second six months of the year till April. This completely upset business arrangements as it was impossible to arrange for spring sales and Christmas orders in such circumstances and it was impossible to maintain the selling staff.

“We should insist that a clear statement of what will and will not be allowed to be imported after June 30 should be published within the next few weeks” said another speaker. “The regulations are in my opinion invalid,” said Mr J. Hislop, a wellknown business man. “We have done all that we possibly can to secure a measure of redress. We have telegraphed to the Minister,on two occasions and our telegrams have been ignored. We have only one step to take —to appeal to the Governor-General, Lord Galway.” There was a frank exchange of views. Those present were asked to state the number they employed on their staffs and the number of discharges. The figures were: employed, 4454; to be discharged; 1702. An analysis showed that only half of those present supplied figures, many not having received licences and being unable to state to what extent they are affected.

Further resolutions carried affirmed the urgency for a joint Dominion conference of all importing interests and requested the Auckland Harbour Board to assist the importing community by allowing 48 hours’ free storage, instead of 24, because of the additional time and work involved in passing Customs entries under the new conditions.