WIDE POWERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 6

WIDE POWERS

Provisions Of Act APPROVAL OF HOUSE TO BE SOUGHT PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. If the Government does invoke the provisions of the Public Safety Conservation Act tomorrow it will be the first time this 18-year-old legislation has been used in peace-time to declare a state of emergency. This measure gives the Government almost unlimited powers of control over the whole economic life of the country. ' In reply to an inquiry tonight, Mr Holland said that the regulations which would be made under the Public Safety Conservation Act would be passed by the Executive Council in the ordinary way and Parliament would be asked to approve them. Asked if the forces had been “alerted” in view of the present tension, Mr Holland replied: “ I am not prepared to answer that.” Mr Holland revealed that before making his statement in the House today he had seen the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Fraser, and informed him of the developments and given him a copy of the statement he proposed to make. Referring to an interview he had had today with members of the national executive of the Watersiders’ Union, Mr Holland said that before leaving they had thanked him cordially for tne courtesy they had received from the Minister of Labour, Mr Sullivan, and himself. They had shaken hands with him all round, and it was stated that it was “ a great pity this thing has had to happen.”