PUBLIC SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 46, 23 February 1940, Page 6

PUBLIC SAFETY.

POLICE POWERS. i PROCESSIONS AND MEETINGS. « SUBVERSIVE STATEMENTS. : | (By Telegraphs—Preaa JUmcUUobJ WELLINGTON, Thursday. Authority for the Commissioner of Police to prohibit processions or meetings he considers likely to be injurious to public safety by impeding the effective conduct of the war is contained in the Public Safety Emergency Regulations gazetted to-night. Restrictions are also imposed on the making of subversive statements, which are defined in a lengthy interpretation clause. The police are given powers of search of premises they suspect of being used for any purpose contrary to the lobulations. "Public safety" is defined as the effective conduct of naval, military and air operations, the uia-inteuance of industries essential to the public welfare, the prevention of disturbances of the public ; peace, and the prevention of subversive statements. Communication with any person, either in writing or orally, or by means of radio-telegraphy, radio-tele-phony, gramophone record or sound cinematograph film, is defined as "publication." There are 6even sub-clauses defining the meaning of "subversive statement." These include a statement intended or likely to cause disaffection to His Majesty; a statement intended or likely to interfere with the success of the Britidi forces or those of the Allies by land, sea or air; a statement intended or j likely to prejudice recruiting or training, I or the discipline or administration of the forces; a statement intended or likely to interfere with the national effort by the disruption of the morale of the civil population; a statement intended or likely to cause undue alarm to the public in relation to the public safety or to the war. Military Training. Also defined as subversive is a statement intended or likely to cause unlawful resistance to or interference with the enforcement or administration of any law in New Zealand or -any of the British Dominions relating to military training or service during the war, or relating to the administration of justice, but not including reasonable and temperate discussion in good faith of any existing laws or measures; a statement intended or likely to interfere with the manufacture, production, output, supply, delivery or carriage by land, sea or air of any goods or articles required in connection with the war.

The regulations state that no person is to publish or attempt to publish any subversive statement, nor is he to have anything in his possession with a view to facilitating such publication. No prosecutions in connection with subversive statements are to be commenced without the written consent of the Attorney-General.

If the Commissioner of Police is satisfied that any procession or meeting is likely to be injurious to the public I safety lie may prohibit its being, held. When such prohibition is imposed no person is to advise, encourage, organise, conduct, lead or take part in a precession or meeting. Any person who may be present at a procession or meeting » to leave after being requested by a constable to do so. There *3 power to arrest without warrant in the case of any person committing an offence against ibis clause. Should a superintendent or inspector of police have reason to suspect that any place is being used or is to be used for the holding of a meeting may be injurious to the public sa'etv be or any authorised constable may at, sny time of the day or night enter that place, using such force as may be necessary. Money for Illegal Purpose. No one is to receive or attempt to receive any money from any other person, whether that person is in New Zealand or elsewhere, for any purpose that is injurious to the public safety or is contrary to the regulations. The consent of the Attorney-Get.era 1 will first be required before a prosecution can be commenced for offences of this nature. If a person is convicted of anv offence \against the regulation relating to money, the Court is authorised to order that the money involved be forfeited to the Crown. If there is reason to suspect the offence is in connection with payaents for subversive activities, entries in the books of the bank through which the payments have been made can be inspected and copies made. There is also authority for notice to be served on a j banker, instructing him not to pay any I further money out of an accmmt iu- [ volwed, except in accordance with the i regulations. | If there is reason to suspect that any ; place is being used for a purpose contrary to the regulations, the place concerned can be entered upon at any time and the contents seized. Any person in possession of a vehicle may be searched and the vehicle also detained for search if the police have reason to suspect they will find evidence of a breach of the regulations. Commissioner of Police 13 authorised to delegate his powers to any superintendent or inspector of police.