Check To Subversion

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1940, Page 2

Check To Subversion

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] WELLINGTON. This Day. An amendment to the Public Safety Emergency Regulations empowers the Attorney-General to declare any organisation to be subversive if he is satisfied that any of its purposes, methods or activities have a subversive tendency, or may be injurious to public safety, or likely to lead to attempts to influence the public, the Government, or any local authority or public body otherwise than by lawful and constitutional means. Where an organisation is declared subversive, no person may summon, conduct, attend or invite any other person to attend a meeting proposed to be held for the purposes of the organisation. nor maj' anyone use or let any premises for the purposes of the organisation or display any notice or sign indicating that premises are used by it. Badges, Flags, Uniforms, Barred. It is also forbidden for any person to participate in the activities of or aid. abet or encourage such organisation or by any badge, symbol, uniform, flag, banner or other means identify himself with or express approval of it. Regulation 4 of the principal regulation applies to a subversive organisation. It prohibits the furnishing of money to such organisation, and enables the Commissioner of Police to stop a bank account to which he suspects moneys have been paid for subversive purposes. Where an organisation is declared subversive, payment may be made to any creditor not being an officer or member of the organisation for any debt lawfully incurred before it was declared subversive, or to such patriotic purposes within the meaning of the Patriotic Purposes Regulations, 1939, as are approved by the AttorneyGeneral, but otherwise shall not be made without the Attorney-General’s consent. Arrest Without Warrant. The Attorney-General may, if necessary, appoint a receiver of all money held by or on behalf of the organisation. There is a provision for arresting without warrant any person found committing an offence against these amending regulations, and a penalty is provided of imprisonment not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding £SO for a breach of these regulations.