THE DIRECTIVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24970, 12 August 1944, Page 8

THE DIRECTIVES

PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FREEDOM OF DISCUSSION (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Friday^ Mr ,J ustioo Northern! I stated ill ]lis judgment in the Billons censorship case thsil lie thought the objection of the defence to tlie directives was well founded, its they did not relate to information," or il they did then it was not information "described in the notice," or relating to any "topic specified in the notice." The first directive was no more than a. mere request or suggestion, so it did not come within either clauses L or J of reputation ](>, said J lis Honor. Ihe second directive did not reler to information, lull to statements or resolutions already made or expected to he made. If it did refer to information then it was not to information either described or specified in the notice. The third directive was the only one which purported to deal with information and it was stilted so widely as not to he either information described or relating 1 to a topic* specified.

"It is not enough that the director should refer indefinitely to a wide subject matter or to a wide range of subject matters and forbid publications thereon without his prior approval," His Honor continued. "In other words, in the interests of public safety he is empowered to prohibit publication of certain information, but lie is not entitled to confer upon himself the powers of the editor of some or all newspapers and as such to say upon certain subjects of public controversy what may or may not be published." His Honor said that application of regulation 15 was limited to information. the publication of which, in the opinion of the director, would be prejudicial to public safety. It conferred no powers of interference with discussion in the press of topics of general interest, except to prohibit therein the disclosure of information which the director must specify, and which he was of the opinion was prejudicial to public safety. Further. matter prohibited must lie such as to justify that opinion. An order under regulation 15 prohibiting publication of information which would not be prejudicial to the public safety could not be made effective by tho mere claim that the director was "of opinion" that its publication would be prejudicial.

In conclusion, His Honor said: "These are regulations for public safety in time of war and are not to be construed narrowly to the prejudice of public safety. At tho same time, the regulations are not to he given such con.struction as will interfere, without regard for public safety, with the customary freedom of discussion of matters ot general interest to the community. It this was intended as one of the iunctions of the regulations, then it should have been stated in clear and unequivocal language.'' OAK LEAF EMBLEM SERVICE CHEVRONS (P.A.) • WELLINGTON, Friday The conditions*goveniing the wearing of the oak leaf emblem denoting mention in despatches and of chevrons indicating length of service in the armed forces are set forth in Army instructions. Royal approval has been given of the award of an emblem to be worn by members of the forces who have received military or civil commendation for brave conduct during the present war. The emblem w in the form of a bronze oak leaf, different in pattern from that instituted for the last war. It will not be worn on the ribbon of any existing decoration, but will be attached directly to the jacket, in a position in which a single ribbon would he worn or in the position in which the ribbon would ho placed immediately after those already worn. The instruction authorising the wearing when in uniform by all members ot the New Zealand forces entitled to do so of chevrons denoting length of service in the armed forces states that one chevron will be granted for each completed year of service in the present war, commencing (for all personnel then serving) on September •'!, I!W9. Recipients become eligible for their first chevron at the end of their first year's service, arid so on. The chevron will be printed in red on a khaki cloth background and will bo worn with apex uppermost on the outside ol the torearm portion of the light sleeve. Kach chevron will be .'i-lOin wide, with each arm measuring Jin long.

The issue of the mentioned in despatches emblem will be made by Rase Records, and no application by those entitled to it is necessary. Applications from personnel clill serving for chevrons will be made to their present command ing officer, who will check the length of service from personal records ;i n< I approve of the number of chevrons to which the applicant is entitled.