Provisions of the Act

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 7

Provisions of the Act

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Described as an Act to make provision for the protection of the community in cases ot' emergency the Public Safety Conservation Bill is a comparatively short measure dealing with the issue of proclamations of emergency. It states if at any time it appears to the Governor-General that any action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person or any body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to bo calculated by interfering with the supply and distribution of food, water, fuel or light, or with means of locomotion, to deprive the community or any substantial portion of the community of the essentials of life, ho may declare that a state of emergency exists. This step may also be taken if at any time it appears to tho Governor-General that any circumstances exist or are likely to come into existence whereby the public safety or public order is or is likely to be imperilled. No such proclamation shall be in force for more than one month without prejudice to the issue of another proclamation at or before the end of that period. Where proclamation of emergency has been made the occasion shall forthwith be communicated to Parliament if in session. Jf Parliament is not in session the communication shall be made within fourteen days after the commencement of the ensuing session.

So long as tho proclamation of emergency is in force it shall be lawful for the Governor-General by Ordcr-in-Council to make all such regulations ns ho thinks necessary for the prohibition of any acts which in his opinion would be injurious to the public safety

and also to make all such other regulations as in his opinion are required for the conservation of public safety and order and for securing the essentials of life to tho community. In any prosecution for charges laid under the Act the court may admit such ovidcnco as it thinks lit whether it. would be admissible in other proceedings or not. An offence may consist. of committing, attempting to commit, or counselling, procuring, aiding, abetting or inciting or conspiring with any other person whether in New Zealand or elsewhere to break tlic regulations.

The regulations so made may be added to altered or revoked by resolution of both Houses of Parliament or by further regulations and may bo revived wholly or partly by any subsequent proclamation of emergency. The expiry or revocation of such regulations shall not affect their previous operation of any penalty incurred m respect to non-compliance with tho regulations. No regulation shall be deemed invalid because it deals with any matter already provided for by any other Act or because of any repugnancy to any other Act. Nothing in the Bill or any regulation made under it shall be construed to take away or restrict the liability of any offence punishable independently ot the Bill.

Clause four makes special provisions to apply the pending issue of the proclamation of emergency. It provides that if the provisions of the Bill cannot be put into operation immediately ii- the event of public emergency tho senior officer of the police force in tho affected locality shall assume responsibility for issuing all the orders necessary for tho preservation of life, protection of property and maintenance of order. This authority applies to an emergency arising from earthquake, fire, flood, or public disorder which ow r ing to its suddenness, interruption of communications or any other reasons prevents the immediate issue of emergency proclamations. Penalties for obstructing the police in the execution of such provisional authority are similar to those prescribed for breaches of Hip emergency regulations.