WAR REGULATIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1916, Page 2

WAR REGULATIONS.

THE NEW ACT IN FORCE. anti-shouting. The War Regulations Act, which pased both Houses of Parliament dur. ing the session,which closed on Tuesday, is now in force. Its chief aim is to give the Goye r nor-i n-Cou nc i 1 (in other words, the Government) the power to make further regulations in connection with the exigencies of the present war. These include the control of licensed houses, the regulation, of sale of intoxicating liquor to women, “the suppression or regulation of the practice of treating,” and the suppression of prostitution, or for the preven. tion of venereal disease.

The question has arisen as to whether any or all of those provisions are in active operation—whether, for instance, it is at the present moment illegal for one man to “shout” for another on licensed premises. Enquiries go to show (says the Wellington Post) that up to the present momelut the practice is not illegal in the strict sense of the term. The Act will not attain the fullest measure of effect, in regard to anti-treating and other mat. tors until the regulations are gazetted. When they are gazetted the public will be able.to fully gauge the extent of the powers which the Act,has given the Government of the country under war conditions. Those regulations are now being prepared by the Law Drafting Department, and will be gazetted at the earliest possible opportunity. WELLINGTON, August 10. It is understood that regulations are now being prepared under the AVar Regulations Act, which will impose ah absolute prohibition on women entering and being served with liquor in hotel bars'.