'No’ to law remit

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 3

'No’ to law remit

WELLINGTON, July 21. Many people were overreacting to the question of law and order, delegates to the National Party conference were told today. Asking the conference to reject a remit which called for stronger legislation and a "more positive attitude” from the Government in dealing with vandalism, demonstrations and public disruption, Mrs A. L. Williams (Hawke's Bay) said the police had the required powers and the Government was acting correctly.

The remit was substantially defeated on the voices. “I think that many people are over-reacting to this question of law and order,” said Mrs Williams. “And it’s not only the

law abiding who are guilty of this, but equally the lawbreakers.”

Mrs Williams said there was a stalemate between conservatives and radicals, they were so busy “thumping the table” and shouting their views at each other that thev did not pause to listen effectively to what was being said.

“It is time that we all realised that the society with which so many of us are disillusioned is what we have made it, and it is up to all of us, not just the Government, to create a society which we can all be proud of,” she added. The remit, moved by Mr

D. D. Aiderton (Clutha), suggested that amendments to legislation might provide for the prosecution of instigators, as well as perpetrators, of acts of vandalism, demonstrations and public disruption.

Mr Aiderton said that people, particularly women, were concerned at the rising tide of lawlessness and civil unrest.

Mr J. J. Watts (Karori) said the tone echoed the past rather than pointing to the future. It was also ] climbing on a bandwaggon and seizing on demonstrations as though they were in themselves a criminal : act.