SUBVERSIVE METHODS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 11

SUBVERSIVE METHODS

Unlawful Organizations MEETINGS PROHIBITED An amendment isstfed yesterday to ■the Public Safety Emergency Regulations empowers the Attorney-General to declare any organization to be subversive If he is satisfied that any of its purposes, methods, or activities have a subversive tendency, or may be injurious to the public safety or are likely to lead to attempts to influence the public, the Government or any local authority or public body otherwise than by lawful and constitutional means. Where an organization is declared subversive no person may summon, conduct, attend or invite any other person to attend a meeting proposed to be held for the purposes of the organization, nor may anyone use or let any premises for the purposes of the organization or display any notice or sign indicating that the premises are used by it. It is also forbidden for any person to participate in the activities of or aid, abet or encourage the organization or by any badge, symbol, uniform, flag, banner or other means identify himself with or express approval of it. Regulation four of the principal regulations applies to a subversive organization. This prohibits the furnishing of money to such an organization and enables the Commissioner of Police to stop a bank account to which he. suspects that moneys have been paid for subversive purposes. Where an organization is declared subversive payments may be made to any creditor, not being an officer or a member of the organization, for any debt lawfully incurred before it was declared subversive, or to such patriotic purposes within the meaning of the Patriotic Purposes Regulations, 1939, as are approved by the Attorney-General, but otherwise shall not be made without the Attorney-General’s consent. The Attorney-General may, if necessary, appoint a receiver of all money held by or on behalf of the organization. There is a provision for arresting without warrant any person found committing an offence against these amending regulations and a penalty provided of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or a line not exceeding £5O for a breach of the regulations. The Attorney-General, Mr. Mason, in explaining tlie amendment, said that the earlier amendments which rendered a printing press liable to be impounded if used for subversive purposes, would apply to any press used for an organization’s printing if the printing were done after it bad been declared subversive.