WAR REGULATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21173, 24 July 1940, Page 10

WAR REGULATION

DOCKYARD PROTECTION WIDE POWERS OF OFFICER CONTROL OVER SHIPPING Naval Dockyard Emergency Regulations, 1940, confer wide powers upon the captain in charge of the Devonport naval dockyard and armament depot, Captain H. M. Barnes One is that in his absolute discretion he may control the movements or activities of any persons within either of the two areas. In exercise of such discretion he may order their removal or prohibit their entry, without being called upon to give any reason for such action. He may also order the immediate removal of any workman or employee, no matter by whom employed, engaged in or about either area, and he may, if he deems it necessary, direct the use of sufficient forcible means to effect the removal. He is also given power to exercise complete control of all shipping lying within or alongside the dockyard and will be entitled to exercise absolute control over the master and crew of any such ship, together with all persons engaged upon or about it. He may order the immediate removal from ship and neighbourhood of any such person. Power of Apprehension Power is also given him to apprehend or detain any person found within the precincts of the two areas if he should consider there is reasonable ground for suspecting such a person is engaged or about to engage in any act calculated to be harmful to either area. With the approval of the Naval Board, he may also by public notice declare any specified area adjoining these areas, including any contiguous portion of the Waitemata Harbour, to be a prohibited area. The power of search is also vested in the captain in charge, this power including vehicles, receptacles and parcels. Refusal to submit to search may result in the captain in charge having such force used as may be reasonably necessary to*carry out the order effectively. The captain may also delegate his powers to any responsible officer, this meaning any commissioned officer at the time on the books of the Philomel or any commissioned officer appointed for duty in the dockyard. Any person convicted of an offence against the j regulations will be liable to imi prisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine of not more than £IOO, or to both.