COMMONWEALTH SOVEREIGNTY

Evening Star, Issue 21006, 21 January 1932, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH SOVEREIGNTY

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE A DIRECT CHALLENGE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ADELAIDE, January 20. Regulations under tho Public Safety Preservation Act, having tho effect of barring the employment of volunteer labour on the waterfront at Port Adelaide, were approved by the State Executive Council to-day, and will be gazetted this afternoon. They restore preference to unionists and all other privileges enjoyed under the Scullin Government, which is directly in conflict with the recent action of the Lyons Government.

Other regulations which were approved to-day give wide powers to the police with regard to seditious publications, picketing, and the possession of unlawful weapons.

Commenting on the South Australian Government’s action in the Sydney ‘ Sun ’ to-day, the editor-in-chief (Mr Delamore M‘Cay) describes it as being of the gravest constitutional importance in so far as it transcends any action by a State Government in contravention of Federal authority since the formation of the Commonwealth, While the South Australian coup can bo challenged constitutionally it is fraught with much graver potentialities, because it involves tin? livelihood and lives of large numbers of people. “ Direct and serious defiance of Commonwealth sovereignty has been attempted, and it remains to be seen whether the Federal Government will take up the challenge.”

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FEDERAL ACTION EXPECTED. ADELAIDE, January 21. (Received January 22, at 10.15 a.m.) A proclamation has bee issued by the Governor declaring that a state of emergency exists. This is for the Port Adoliade area only. The Premier (Mr Hill) stated: “We are not defying the Commonwealth. We are merely warning it. The Act gives'the State Government power to proclaim that a state of emergency exists in any area, and to make regulations for that area.” The regulations are expected to be challenged by the Federal Government. A meeting of Cabinet was held in Melbourne, but it was decided to await further information before taking action. Interviewed, the Attorney-General (Mr Latham) said that while no decision was reached by Cabinet, the South Australian Government’s action was regarded as unconstitutional. In spite of the action of the Adelaide branch of the Seamen’s Union in calling out the crews of the vessels owned by the Adelaide Steamship Company, three ships left Port Adelaide with volunteer crews.