SHIPPING TROUBLE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 January 1932, Page 5

SHIPPING TROUBLE

DIRECT DEFIANCE • BY STATE EXECUTIVE. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright ADELAIDE, Wednesday. Regulations under the Public Safety Preservation Act having the effect of barring the employment of voulnteer labour on the waterfront at Port Adelaide were approved by the State Executive Council to-day, and will be gazetted this afternoon. They restore preference to unionists and all other privileges enjoyed under the. Seullin Government, which is directly in eonffict with the recent action of the Lvons Government.

Other regulations approved to-day give wide powers to the police with regard to seditious publications, picketing and the possession of unlawful weapons. Commenting on the South Australian Government’s action in the Sydney “Sun” to-day, the editor-in-chief, Mr Delamore, MeCay, describes it as of the crravest constitutional importance, insofar as it transcends any action by a State Government in contravention of Federal authority since the formation of the Commonwealth. While the South Australian coup can be challenged constitutionally, it is fraught with much graver potentialities, because it in\ olves the livelihood and lives of large numbers of people. A direct and seiious defiance of the Commonwealth sovereignty has been attempted. It remains to bo seen whether the Fcdcial Government will take up the challenge.

STATE OF EMERGENCY. GOVERNMENT. PROCLAMATION. (Received Thursday, 10.15 a.m.) ADELAIDE, This Day. A proclamation has been issued by the Governor, declaring that a state of emergency exists. This is for the Port of Adelaide area only. The Premier, Mr L. L. Hill, stated: “We are not defying the Commonwealth Government. We are merely warning it that the Act gives the State Government power to proclaim that a state of emergency exists in regulations for that area.” The regulations are expected to be challenged by the Federal Government. A meeting of Cabinet was held at Melbourne but it was decided-to await further information before taking action. Interviewed the Attorney-General, Mr J. G. Latham, said that, while no decision was reached by Cabinet, the South Australian Government’s action is regarded as unconstitutional. In spite of the action of the Adelaide branch of the Seamen’s Union, in calling out the crews of vessels owned by the Adelaide Steamship Compay, three ships left Port Adelaide, with volunteer crews.