SHARP EXCHANGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 4 August 1934, Page 2

SHARP EXCHANGES.

PREMIER AND DEPUTATION. POLICE OFFENCES BILL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. There were sharp exchanges between the Premier and members of a Labour deputation, which protested to Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes and Hon. J. G. Cobbe to-day against the Harbours Amendment Bill and the Police Offences Bill, which give statutory effect to the War Regulations. The. deputation represented the Alliance of Labour, the Seamen’s Union, and the Watersiders’ Federation, and asked that the Government should drop both Bills. Mr Forbes said that the Government was determined to maintain the powers held to protect citizens in time of trouble, and expressed the opinion that in times such as the present there was need for even greater powers than were already possessed by the Government. . Replying to the deputation, Mr Forbes said that, as far ba.ck as IJ3U, the late Sir Thomas Sidey had been approached by the law societies and chambers of commerce asking that the war regulations should be put into statute form. Sir Tlioma-s agreed to draft the necessary legislation and the present was the first opportunity the Government had had of introducing the legislation. More important business had prevented the matter being brought before the House previously. “I want to assure you that there is no sinister design behind the Government's action,” said Mr ■F°rb < :®- “There is not one thing in the Bills that is not already on the Statute Book. The Government is not taking one bit more power than it has already. If there is- any considerable objection to the Bills they can be dropped. If it is thought that tilings should be left as they are, the Government has power under the \\ai Regulations Continuance Act, IJ-U. Mr Roberts: We have your promise that the legislation will not be used in any industrial dispute? Mr Forbes: I made no promise. Mr Roberts: Your predecessor did. THE 1913 STRIKE. Mr Forbes: We are not going to let one section of the community have power to threaten the other sections. The Government is not going to allow that to occur—not for one moment. We are not going to allow the wharves to be taken charge of as was done in 1913. In 1913 it was necessary for people to get a ticket from the strike committee to allow them to go on then own wharves. , . , Mr L. Glover: I was chairman ot the strike committee in 1913, and no such permits were ever issued. Mr Forbes: 1 was here in 1913, anu I ‘remember the Department of Agriculture had to get a permit to take meat to Somes Island. Do you think we would allow things like that to occur again? The State must see that the services are carried on. So far as the powers contained in the Bills are concerned, they will be exercised with the same discretion as in the past. This is not the time for the State to do away with the powers necessary tor the jjrotcction of the people ot the said that all over the world every case brought under the war regulations had failed, and that was why the Government was bringing down new Bills. Mr Forbes: That is not so % Mr Roberts: You are taking additional powers under the War Regulations Continuance Act. You _ had to prove in an English Court of Law that there was a war in existence, or danger of a war before you could enforce the regulations. , Mr Forbes: I have never heard that argument raised before. I will be pleased to look into it. If we find we want still more powers we will bring down fresh legislation. In these troublous times the State needs even more powers than it has alieady. A voice: Hitler. Mr Forbes: There is no Hitler business about it at all. The people of the country have a right to claim protection. Mr Roberts: You have all the powers you want to deal with industrial disputes. Under these Bills you are beating a dead dog. Mr R. Semple said the Prime Minister must know that under the legislation innocent men could be gaoled for taking part in a strike in defence of their rights. Mr Forbes said it was the duty of the Government to treat all sections of the community with justice. Mr Semple said that the Prime Minister’s confession that the Bills had been introduced at the behest of the law societies, and chambers. of commerce showed there was a dictatorship outside the House. Mr Forbes: We can argue that out inside the House.

Mr Semple: We will do that all right.