MAINTENANCE OF ORDER

Evening Star, Issue 21079, 16 April 1932, Page 17

MAINTENANCE OF ORDER

GOVERNMENT DETERMINED SPECIAL LEGISLATION POSSIBLE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, April 16. “ The Government is determined that law and order in this country shall be maintained, and the Cabinet intends almost immediately to strengthen the hands of the police and the local authorities in Auckland and other centres to ensure that outbreaks of lawlessness do not recur,” said Mr Forbes, this afternoon, following a meeting of Cabinet called specially to consider what steps should be taken by way of special legislation to meet such emergencies. Mr Forbes stated that Cabinet had devoted last night and this morning to the matter, and Ministers were satisfied that the authorities in Auckland bad the situation < well in hand. This was based on advices which from time to time had been received from Mr Hutchison (the mayor). In reply to a question, Mr Forbes pointed out that the Mayor of Auckland had authority to read the Riot Act if the circumstances warranted it, but the mayor had to be the judge of the situation. Cabinet had carefully considered what emergency measures would be necessary to further assist the mayor and the police in the preservation of law and order, and, although a final decision had not been reached, it was possible that special legislation would be presented to the House at an early date. Mr Forbes made it clear that, ah though ample powers existed for handling situations such as that which had developed in Auckland, anything done outside the law to assist the authorities in the execution of their duty would be validated. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 16. Mr Forbes said that Mr Sullivan (Labour Mayor of Christchurch) had assured him that all the necessary steps had been taken to maintain law and order in that city. Mr Sullivan had assured him that the possibility of an outbreak during the week-end was remote.