WIDE POWERS GIVEN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20908, 13 September 1939, Page 2

WIDE POWERS GIVEN

STATE IN TIME OF WAR EMERGENCY REGULATIONS BILL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY (By Telegropn.—specm to Time*) WELLINGTON. Tuesday The Emergency Regulations Bill, which was introduced by GovernorGeneral's Message and read a first time in the House of Representatives to-night, validates regulations promulgated during the past 10 days under the Public Safety Conservation Act, 1932. It also gives the Government power to make regulations in the interests of public safety, the defence of New Zealand, the maintenance of public order, for maintaining essential supplies and services and for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community. Regulations may also be made for any of the following purposes:— (1) Providing for the apprehension, trial and punishment of persons offending against the regulations and for the detention of persons where it appears to be expedient in the interests of public safety or the defence of New Zealand. Control of Property (2) Authorising the taking of poseession or control or the aoquistion of any property and the entering and search of premiees. (3) Providing for the modification or suspension of the operation of any enactment. (4) Prescribing matters in respect ©f which fees are to be payable under emergency regulations, the amount of the fees and the persons liable to pay them, as well as authorising the refund or remission of any fees payable. (5) Making such provisions as may he deemed necessary for the suppression, restriction or control of enemy trade and making any provisions considered necessary to deal with enemy property. (6) Providing for the control of prices and for the prevention of profiteering, as well as promoting the development of standardisation, simplification and certification in relation to commodities, processes and practices. (7) Providing for the protection of debtors and for the regulation and restriction of legal proceedings, powers and remedies. (8) Creating corporate bodies and prescribing their powers and functions. (9) .Establishing courts and tribunals and conferring jurisdiction on any Court or tribunal, whether established under the regulations or otherwise. Extra-territorial Operation The emergency regulations will have extra-territorial operation. Theywill apply to all ships and aircraft iifl or over New Zealand and to all ships and aircraft registered in New Zealand, wherever they may be. They will also apply to all persons in the Dominion, as well as persons on board New Zealand ships or aircraft and to persons employed outside New Zealand on New Zealand ships or aircraft. Protection is provided for persons acting under the authority of the Bill for any regulations made under its power. Breaches of the regulations will be punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for 12 months, a fine of £IOO, or both. Courts are given power to admit any evidence they think fit. irrespective of whether it would be admissible in other proceedings or not. The release from custody of any person convicted pending the hearing of an appeal is prohibited, except with the consent of the Attorney-General. REPLAOINQ ACT OF 1932 FRAMED UPON BRITISH BILL ! __ POWERS NOT TO BE USED UNDULY (By Telerrwm.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON', Tuesday “The Bill is a very important one in the present crisis and a very farreaching measure,” said the actingLeader of the House, the Hon. P. Eraser, in response to a request by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, for an explanation of the Emergency Regulations Bill. “In effect, it is as far-reaching as the regulations already passed under the Public Safety Conservation Act. The main reason for having this legislation introduced to that the Public Safety Conservation Act, while very useful in a sudden emergency, is not so well suited to regulate for the period of the war.” Mr Fraser said the Public Safety Conservation Act was passed in i 932 to deal with internal matters and to preserve good government. There was a clause in it providing that any proclamation of emergency made under the Act should not remain in force for mpre than a month, and this would mean the continual issuing of proclamations if the war continued and if the regulations were to continue in force. Other Empire Countries Therefore, although the earlier measure was quite convenient for an emergency situation, it had been decided to do as had been done in the other units of the British Commonwealth and introduce an Emergency Regulations Bill. The Rf. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition —Kaipara) : Will It follow closely the 1914 Bill? Mr Fraser: Not in all respects. It is framed to a very large extent upon the British Bill. “Members will see that there are very far reaching clauses,” the Minister continued. “They give very complete and absolute power to the Government in office and, neeesarily and unavoidably so, the measure of the Government's sense of responsibility will be gauged by the use it makes of these regulations. It is unavoidable that whatever Government is in office it has these very extensive powers controlling almost all of our activities.” Not to be Used Unduly Mr Fraser added that no sensible person would put into operation regulations excessively controlling people if they were not required. “I hope that the yoke will be easy and the burden light," Mr Fraser added. “They arc not going to be U6ed unduly.” Mr w. J. Poison (Opposition—