WAR REGULATIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 13

WAR REGULATIONS

repeal proposed BILL BEFORE HOUSE By Telegraph - Press Association WELLINGTON, July 25. The War Regulations Repeal Bill, which was introduced in the House last evening, purposes to repeal the War Regulations Act and revoke all war regulations now in force. There are certain matters of public importance, however, that, while not dealt with by way of war regulations, should, in the opinion of the Government, be provided for in permanent legislation. These matters are as follows: — (1) The production of passports by persons arriving in New Zealand from overseas. (2) The control of wharves by the Government in cases of public necessity. (3) The prohibition of seditious strikes, lockouts and control of seditious literature. t Apart from the short title the War Regulations Repeal Bill contains only two clauses. The first repeals the War Regulations Continuance Act, 1920, and revokes the war regulations. The second provides that the status and powers of the Public Trustee as the custodian of enemy property shall not in. any way be effected by the repeal. Passports Necessary. The Passports Bill states that the Govemor-Geneiul-in-Council may make regulations requiring the production of passports from persons arriving from abroad, and exempting either absolutely or conditionally any person or specified classes of persons from that obligation. However, those required to produce passports and who fail to comply with such requirements are liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for three months or a fine of £IOO, and shall be deemed to be prohibited immigrants.

An official explanation of the purposes of the Harbours Amendment Bill stated that the Government considered certain provisions now in force as war regulations should, in the interests of the public, be continued in force, but not as war regulations and the provisions of the Bill were within that class. Certain modifications of expression and of arrangement had been found necessary, but no material alteration had been made. The Bill provides . that the Governor-General may declare any wharf to be a Government wharf and appoint a controller and assistant controllers who may warn off the wharf any person regarding whom it is considered that his liberty of access to the wharf is prejudicial to the effective use of it. The controller may close a Government wharf or any part of it, and in such circumstances no one shall enter the wharf without a permit issued by the authority of the controller. Anyone conspiring to interfere with the proper loading, unloading or despatch of any vessel, whether lying at a Government wharf or not, shall be liable on summary conviction to three months imprisonment or a fine of £IOO. Strikes and Lock-outs. Likewise the Police Offences Amendment Bill re-introduces certain provisions now in force under the war regulations, but n assurance is given by the Government that no material alterations have been made. The Bill empowers the Governor-General to declare essential industries, End provides that anyone who is a party to a seditious strike or to a seditious lockout or who incites any such strike or lock-out shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for three months or a fine of £IOO. A similar penalty is provided for in the case of anyone who prints, publishes, sells, distributes, has in his possession for sale or distribution, or brings or causes to be brought or sent into New Zealand any document which incites, encourages, advises or advocates violence, lawlessness or disorder or expresses any seditious intention.