IMPORTS & LAW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1939, Page 4

IMPORTS & LAW

MR. HAMILTON CRITICISES PRIME MINISTER. “GROSS MISSTATEMENT OF POSITION.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, May 27. “I was amazed to read the Prime Minister’s explanation when his attention was drawn to the resolution adopted by the Auckland importers protesting against the Government’s administration' of the import regulations when they had been declared by the Supreme Court to be ultra vires,” said the Leader of the Opposotion, Mr. Hamilton, today. “The Prime Minister is reported to have said: ‘Legislation was introduced every session to amend laws that have been found not to express correctly the intention of the Government.’ “My reply is that this statement has no relation to the point at issue. Certainly the Government has the right to amend the-law every session, but \ the point at issue is that till Parliament amends the law the Government like all citizens, is bound to obey the law as interpreted by our courts. “The Prime Minister and his Government are evidently going to defy this law till ■ it is amended in Parliament. The Prime Minister says, further, that every Finance Bill introduced into Parliament contains clauses similar to the clause that will be necessary to put the position right. “This is a gross misstatement of the position. Clauses in Finance Bills amend the law for the future, but they are not retrospective. Clauses dealing with retrospective legislation are included in what are known as Wash* ing-Up Bills, and only, then when all parties are in agreement. In this case of import restrictions, when a dispute has arisen and the Supreme Court has declared the regulations invalid, the Government should be the first to uphold and obey the law till it is amended by Parliament.”