THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE Pressure during long debate

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33480, 11 March 1974, Page 2

THE WEEK IN THE HOUSE Pressure during long debate

(By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY)

WELLINGTON, March 10. The lethargic passage of the New Zealand Export-Import Corporation Bill through its committee stage set the tone of the House for the whole week. Nothing much else was done, for j little could be attempted. I Considering the numerical i disparity of the parties, the ! feat of the National Opposition was remarkable. The icalling of 41 divisions over a bill which has only 31 clauses created some sort of record in concentration. One Parliamentary authority says that as an exhibition’ of Parliamentary i stonewalling it was even more impressive than the < performance of the then i Labour Opposition during the passage of the payroll tax legislation. Time lost? Others might argue that all that was lost was time, that it was an expensive exercise in terms of accomplishment for the number involved, and that the Prime Minister (Mr

Kirk) would have been justified in invoking urgency as long ago as last November. The pressure was such during the week that the oral question-and-answer period was held down to its prescribed limits. As a result, when Parliament concluded discussion on the ExportImport measure at 25 minutes after noon on Friday, there were 47 questions on the Order Paper.

Happily the House managed to dispose of these before rising for the week-end. It was predictable that discussion on the introduction of an Opposition measure (the Education Amendment Bill) was still proceeding when the House rose. Its proposer, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Muldoon) will have his opportunity to introduce it all over ■ again on Tuesday. Rural bills Legislation will be the: main order in the coming! week. The interrupted second-reading debate on the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation Bill is first on the Order Paper, followed by the second reading debates

on the Marine Pollution Bill, the Physiotherapy Amendment Bill, the Dangerous Goods Bill, and the Wheat Research Levy Bill. The maximum time for these four measures is fixed at four hours.

Mr Kirk will leave early on March 20 to attend the South Pacific Forum in Rarotonga. He will not return until the evening of March 26, but the House will continue during his absence. No firm date has yet been given for a recess. It could well be, however, that the House will rise on Friday. March 29, until some time after Easter.

War on drugs Aspects of the war against drugs were discussed during question time. The Minister of Police (Mr Connelly) said in answer to questions that 'the power of search without warrant under the provisions iof the Narcotics Act, 1965, ■had been exercised on 56 i occasions. In 45 of these, Mr Connelly said, narcotics had been found; in three i other instances the searches resulted in the finding of evidence leading to the discovery of narcotics at other places. Mr P. L Wilkinson (Nat,

Rodney): Does the Minister agree that the facts he has just given provide an effective answer to those who feared that these powers would be used oppressively or excessively? Does he personally support the retention of these powers? ‘"’Grave concern” Mr Connelly: There are quite strict provisions and rules relating to the exercise of these powers. As to relaxation of the law, I would say that since drug trafficking and its attendant evils are a matter of grave social concern, it would make me very cautious in recommending "to the Government that any change be made in the law. Mr T. J. Young (Lab., Hutt): Could the Minister indicate whether the police would have been able to find these breaches of the Narcotics Act had they not had these powers?

Mr Connelly: I cannot say specifically whether in the long term some people may have been apprehended, but it is quite clear that this power enables the police to apprehend offenders promptly, which is the objective.