PUBLIC SAFETY REGULATIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21246, 17 October 1940, Page 6

PUBLIC SAFETY REGULATIONS

Amendment No. 2 of the Public Safety Emergency Regulations, 1940, is meeting with considerable criticism from some trades unions, but none of the other unions has gone quite as far in opposition as the building trade workers at Wellington, whose resolution has drawn a sharp rejoinder from the Prime Minister. Those who supported the resolution pledged themselves “ to resist to the utmost the implementation of the regulations.” They congratulated the Dobson miners on the stand they had taken against the regulations and decided “ to communicate with all other trades unions with a view to their taking similar action.” The amendment to which objection is taken states : “If the Attorney-General is of the opinion in respect of any person in any employment that it is necessary or expedient in the interests of public safety, the effective prosecution of the war or the maintenance of essential industries that that person should not continue to be employed in that employment, he may by notice declare that that employment shall be terminated in accordance with the terms of the notice.” On the merits of the amendment it may be said that previously existing law seemed to give power to restrict the activities of any person who was interfering with the conduct of industry or the war effort, even if that law was not always invoked. Therefore the new law does not materially affect the powers of the Government excepting that it places what some unions believe to be a dangerous amount of discretion in the hands of the Minister. If the Ministerial discretion were perfect the amendment would not mean a great deal. The amendment is now the law, however, and the Wellington meeting not only exercised its right of criticism but suggested action to frustrate the law, which not surprisingly drew a very serious charge from the Prime Minister. It would have been wise, of course, to have argued the amendment in Parliament instead of promulgating it as an order in council, so that all points of view could be heard. Certainly the Government must have full power to check sabotage of industry and the war effort, but generally speaking it is better to have such mischief dealt with by the law courts than by the discretion of a Minister. The Government cannot, however, countenance defiance of the law as it stands, and chaos will result unless it takes the appropriate action. Mr Fraser has made it clear that there will be no hesitation in applying the regulations should the need arise.