TO FRUSTRATE THE PIRATES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3044, 3 April 1917, Page 8

TO FRUSTRATE THE PIRATES

CENSORSHIP ON SHIPPING NEWS

TIGHTENED

STATEMENT BY HON. A. L. HERDMAN

■I he restriction oil the publication of news ot the movements of oversea ships was considerably widened by' the additional regulations passed by the Exocutive Council yesterday. Subject to the exceptions specified in the new regulations, tho Press ot the Dominion will not now be able to publish any particulars concerning the "movements, whereabouts, cargo, or employment (whether past, presont, or future) of any seagoing ship, other than one exclusively engaged in the coastal trade of New. Zealand, or any information as to any such ship which, if known to the enemy, might be a source of danger to that ship, (ir might otherwise be of use to the enemy.'V The Attorney-General, speaking to a reporter yesterday, had something to say about the stringency of the new regulations. "These new regulations," said Mr. Hordman, "are more drastic and far-ieaohing than the regulations which came into,operation on February s'laßt. They have been made because the Imperial Government expressed a wish that the New Zealand Government should take steps which will effectually prevent the publication of any information relating to the movements in the Pacific and elsewhere of British shipping.'. • . • ' : _ . 'In the regulations of February 5 last the prohibition related to the publication of information respecting vessels engaged: ' in ahv voyage the course of which lay wholly or partly to tile north .of the Equator.;. Tho nc«" regulations prohibit the. publication of "any information : about any ship except ships engaged in purely local coastal business, and it is to be noted that the publication of any such information is an offence, although no particular ship may be named or identified. From this date the publication of the dates of sailing ships between New ' Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and the- South Sea Islands is prohibited, and' newspapers are barred from making any reference to any oversea ship wnicli may move from port to port in New Zealand forthe purpose of picking up or discharging cargo, but information about the movements of boats trading exclusively, within New Zealand waters is allowed.

"It, is plain that the wholesale torpedoing of ships which is going oil at present is responsible for the new restrictions. The Admiralty is determined to reduce to a minimum the risk run by oversea ships. I have no doubt - tliat the enemy is doing his best .at the present' time to glean information about the movements of ships carrying soldiers and vessels laden with rich cargoes from the colonies, and although the public and may suffer some inconvenience because of the restrictions imposed by the regulations, it is the plain duty of citizens to do their, utmost to frustrate the designs of the Germans by carrying out to the letter the requests made bv those who are endeavouring ,to transport soldiers and food across the sea by safe paths." . ,