LAND OF THE FREE

Grey River Argus, 17 January 1940, Page 4

LAND OF THE FREE

EFFECT OF WAR ON BRITISH FREEDOM. (By a Special Correspondent.) LONDON, December 20. Under emergency regulations, slipped through Parliament without detailed examination, liberties built up over a hundreds of years have been handed over to the arbitrary control of members of the Government. That, in essence is the background of a recent debate in the House of Commons when the Liberal Party backed by the Labour speakers, demanded the annulment of the latest set of regulations. The Act under which the regulations are made was rushed through Parliament at the beginning of the war.

It enables the Government to make any order “jiecessary or expedient” for securing public safety, the defence of the realm the maintenance of public order and the efficient prosecution of the war or for maintaining essential services. The regulations come into force as soon as made and do not require Parliamentary consent, although they may be annulled by resolution of either House. Within this framework the Government—and in effect any Government Department—has unfettered power. Already the rights of habeas corpus have been taken awav a Secretary of State having been given power to order the detention of any person “with a view to preventing him acting in a manner prejudicial to the defence of the realm ” Right of search, carefully restrio i ed in regard to ordinary criminal of- . fences, has been handed over in mat- [ ters affected by regulations. It is merely necessary for a police office to regard a search as urgent and on the authority of a police officer “not lower than the rank of superintendent” any premises can be entered. In effect the Government has now applied to every British citizen pow ers similar to those taken before the war to deal with I.R.A. terrorists. A man arrested for murder can demand to be brought before a court. His home is immune from search without a warrant granted by a Magistrate. For offences under the war regulations both these rights are destroyed for everyone. The powers go further. Judicial proceedings of any description may now be held in camera. In areas proclaimed as "protected places” by a Minister, right of acess to "unauthorised persons” may be forbidden and persons entering may be searched. Persons remaining in the vicinity may be forcibly removed. This power clearly cuts across the Government pledge not to interfere with; Trade Union rights, since the powers could be used to stop Trade Union officials entering factories and to prevent peaceful picketing in the event of a strike. | A Secretary of State, in addition to the power to order detention with-i out trial, may impose restrictions on "employment, association with other persons, or in respect of activities in

relation to the dissemination of news or the propagation of opinion.” CURFEW MAY RING. He is Judge and Jury in the case, but the victim has the right to “object” to an advisory committee. No machinery is laid down for the hearing of his case, and the Secretary of State may apparently disregard the advice of the committee, even if it is in favour of the accused. Curfew, may be imposed in any area and for any hours of the day or night specified in an order. It is an offence to endeavour to influence public opinion in a manner prejudicial to the efficient conduct of the war or “to possess any article with a view-to making such endeavour.” A person convicted by a jury of publishing matter which might prejudice the efficient prosecution of the war may be prohibited from publishing any newspaper in the United Kingdom. Most of the powers embodied in these orders have not yet been used by the Government, and the official explanation is that they are necessary in case civil life is disorganised by constant air raids. The view, however, held by many members of the House is that the powers are being held in reserve in case political or industrial opposition operates contrary to the interests of the Government rather than,to those of the nation.

Members, in fact, feel that in a war against German Fascism, Ministers have acted contrary to the public interest in establishing the framework of a Fascist State, and have take.i far greater authority than was found necessary to win the last war.