WIDE SCOPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1939, Page 7

WIDE SCOPE

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS SUMMARY BY MR FRASER. ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL ISSUED. (Continued from page 5.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In his statement in the House of Representatives, Mr Fraser, ActingPrime Minister, said that Orders-in-Council had been passed making regulations, which would be duly gazetted, as follows:— “Regulations which will enable the Government to exercise an adequate censorship over the means of communication both telegraph and postal, as well as enabling control to be established over any matter which may be published in the Press, or by the broadcasting services, by the films and generally by any media which can be used for conveying information to the public. “The regulations are to be administered by a Controller of Censorship and a Director of Publicity, the former of which will be responsible for the Telegraph and Postal censorship, the latter for publicity and control of the Press generally. “So far as publicity is concerned, the Government desires to state that, though full power is taken to exercise control, this will be secured so far as possible by the active co-operation of the Press and other agencies concerned, who have already co-operated in a manner which has earned the gratitude of the Government.

“Naval Mobilisation Emergency Regulations and Naval Mobilisation Emergency Regulations Amendment No. 1 thereto which enable the Naval Board to call up for service any member of the Naval Reserve.

“Shipping Control Emergency Regulations, which give power to the Naval Board of New Zealand to issue instructions to ships for the purpose of ensuring the safety of vessels. “Defence Emergency Regulations, which enable the Army to call out either the whole or a portion of the Territorial Forces, or Class 2 of the Military Reserve if and when the position should require this step. Power is also given in these regulations to enable Army authorities to enter upon land to erect any necessary defences or to make us£ of any land which may be needed for military purposes. “Transfer of Air Force reserve to Regular Air Force: Proclamations have also been signed transferring the Air Force Reserve to the Regular Air Force and declaring the Territorial Air Force to be liable for continuous service in New Zealand. The purpose of these proclamations is to give power to call up members who may be required for immediate service should the occasion necessitate it.

“Prime Stabilisation Emergency Regulations have been made stabilising prices as from today.” Mr Fraser said that these measures were being taken as a precautionary step. There had been no exceptional development and the power in the regulations would be exercised with care and caution and in the interests of the people of the Dominion.

DEFENCE FORCES

SERVICE IN NEW ZEALAND PROVISION FOR CALLING OUT. TERRITORIALS AND NATIONAL RESERVE. WELLINGTON, This Day. Regulations enabling the ..calling out of the land forces for service within New Zealand are. provided in the Defence Emergency Regulations. The National Military Reserve is deemed to he part of the defence forces. The Go-vernor-General may call out the defence forces or any part of them by proclamation for military service' for defence, in New Zealand. The defence forces shall be liable to be employed on military service while required. Offers of service may be accepted and contracts for service will specify the places in New Zealand in which service mav be given. Anyone who has been called out for military service will be subject to military law. Power is given to the Minister of Defence to take over land or buildings to destroy or construct buildings and to close roads and direct traffic. Provision is made for the restoration of land to its former condition as soon as practicable and for the payment of compensation. Offences against the regulations are obstruction or interference with the powers granted under the regulations. Anyone committing such an offence may be arrested without warrant by an officer or non-commissioned officer of the defence forces, or by a constable and dealt with before a magistrate. Any land dealt with under the regulations is deemed to be land forming part of the defences for the purposes of the Defence Act, 1909. AIR FORCE TRANSFERENCE OF RESERVE TO REGULARS. LIABILITY OF TERRITORIALS FOR SERVICE. WELLINGTON, This Day. The object of the proclamation issued yesterday transferring all officers and airmen of the Air Force Reserve to the Regular Air Force and declaring all officers and airmen of the Territorial Air Force liable for continuous service within New Zealand was explained last evening by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. He said this was a precautionary measure giving power to call up members who might be required for immediate service. “Instructions to members so required will be issued by telegraph." the Minister said, “and members who are not advised in this way should continue in their present civil employment till further notice. With regard to the Civil Reserve of Pilots and the Air Force Civil Reserve, members of these organisations will receive individual advice if and when their services are required. It is unlikely, however, that members of these reserves will be required immediately.”