WAR REGULATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17358, 22 December 1916, Page 6

WAR REGULATIONS.

POWER. TO PROHIBIT

MEETINGS.

[Pfji Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, December 21. An Order-in-Council under the AVar Regulations provides as follows: —

If tbo Commissioner of Police is satisfied that any place is about to be used, or likely to be used, for holding a meeting or meetings having reference to tlie war, and a kind injurious to the public safety or the interests or his Majesty in respect of the war, the Commissioner may by notice prohibit the use of that place for meetings having reference to the war. As long as auv such notice remains in force with respect to any place every meeting held in that place, and having reference to the war, shall, unless held in pursuance of a written permit issued bv the Commissioner of Police, he an unlawful meeting witlun the meaning and for tlie purposes of these regulations. . Every person who permits an unlawful meeting to be held in or upon any premises or land owned or occupied by him shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations and shall be liable accoidingly. Every person, other than a constable or person acting in nid of the police, who is present at an unlawful meeting, or who is a party to the holding of: such meeting, shall be guilty of ail offence against these regulations and be liable accordingly. , . So long as anv such notice remains in'force with respect to anv place, a constable may at all times by day or night, when he has reason to believe that, an.v meeting is being or is about, to be held in that place, enter upon that place and upon every part thereof, and anyone who obstructs the constable in the exercise of this right ot entry shall he guilty of an offence against these regulations and shall bo liable accordingly. Everv such notice shall be gn en either bv publishing the same in some iiowspaper circulating in the neigibourhood of the place to which the notice relates, or by publicly exhibiting the same at that place. , , Everv person who. without lawful authority removes or otherwise nnterferes with anv notice so exhibited at anv time while it remains m force, shall he guilty of an offence against these regulations and shall be liable acC °lt* sbali be. sufficient if any such notice issued in respect ot any place sets forth that meetings haying reference to the war are prohibited in that place under tho War Regulations. Every such notice shall remain m force until revoked by the Commissioner of Police by notice published in 6omo newspaper circulating in the neighbourhood of the place to which it relate re g U ] a tions “meeting” means any assembly at. which more than twelve persons are present. “Place” means a building or part ot a building or public place within the meaning of part 11. of the Police 0 - fences Act. 1908. or piece of land owned or occupied by any person.