War Regulations.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16396, 16 December 1918, Page 6

War Regulations.

A cablo messago published on Friday suggests that Australia is much in advance of New Zealand in its concern for domestic liberty and its distrust of government by Ministerial decree. The Federal Government, so the message informed lis, has yielded to tho protests against the proposal that tho "VVar Regulations should remain in force fop six months after tho conclusion of peace, and has consented to allow theso regulations to expire at tho end of July next. Tho measure through which the Government sought to extend the operations of the War Regulations Act set forth that " it may not be possible before the war "has ceased to malte complete provision " for a return to the normal conditions "of peace," and that "the expiration of " tho said Act and of all Orders and " Regulations mado thereunder, in tho " absence of such provision, would " cause great public danger and incon- " vemenco." This proposal caused very general irritation, for it was universally felt tliat a return could bo made to normal conditions forthwith in all but a few exceptional cases, and that in theso cases provision for a return to normal conditions could be mode before the treaties were signed. "Nearly all " tho principles of constitutional and " representative government have been "suspended," tho "Argus'' observed. "Regulation has been piled upon regulation until there has not been a " citizen or a child but has in some "way been directed, restricted, or pro- " hibitod under tho powers exercised "by authority of the War Precautions " Act." But the protests of the newspapers and tho public against the undue prolongation of government by decree have not been as successful as they should have been. Still, Australia is bettor off than New Zealand. Here no protest was made in the House of Representatives, and, outside the columns of "The Press," no serious attempt has been made anywhere to secure the removal of the oxcessive powers still enjoyed by officialdom.

At the present moment the >/ar Regulations Acts are still in force, ancj will remain in force for twelve months after the war, or for such shorter period as the Government may determine. If the Government chooses, all the regulations will remain in force for nearly eighteen months to comej, for wo may assume that peace will not be signed until May next. How extensive are the powers conferred on the Government— powers wliich have been very widely used—most people are unaware, each one probably thinking that the irksome regulations affecting himself are the only ones of consequence. The liberty of publication is still subject to tho regulation—which has often been greatly abused—giving the Censor, which is tho samo thing as giving the Government, power to prohibit the publication of any matter or kind of matter relating, however remotely, to the war. It may be useful to give the public a list (which is not a complete list, but a. representative one) of the powers of the Government under tho War Regulations Acts. It may issue regulations

Fixing the powers and duties of the police; Prohibiting any acts deemed by the Government injurious to the public safety; "Preventing or regulating fie sale of liquor regardless of the Licensing Acts; Prohibiting or restricting the use 0$

labour and capital in any incnis-try the Government may clioose: Prohibiting or restricting the registration of companies or the issue of shares:

Regulating and controlling the delivery of goods in cities; Urquirin.rr persons not engaged in essential industries to appear before a magistrate to show causo why they should not bo forced to change their occupation :

Maintaining, controlling, or managing anv industry;

Enforcing national -service; Prohibiting or restricting any employnient, occupation, business, Work, or industry.

The Government has other powers besides these, but these arc sufficient to enablo tho Government if it choso to do so, to destroy every particlo of liberty once enjoyed by the community During the war tho community acquiesced in the suspension of domestic liberty, just as the householder acquiesces in the summary treatment of his property by total strangers when his house is on fire. But tho perils of war aro over, and a return should be made without delay to normal conditions over as wide an area as possible. If circumstances had not mado the Legislature unable to deal coolly and with deliberation with the legislative requirements of the country this matter would certainly have come up for discussion. In default of that discussion, we can only renew our appeal to tho Government completely to remove all tlio restrictions upon the Press and as many as possible of tho other prohibitions and regulations now in force.