LEGISLATION AT A LEISURELY PACE

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33487, 19 March 1974, Page 3

LEGISLATION AT A LEISURELY PACE

(By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY)

Some progress into the Order Paper last week was rewarded on Friday by the expected news of a two-month recess beginning on March 29. It has not yet really been earned, for progress remains very slow, and there seems to be no incentive to speed it up.

The shadow of the Export-Import Corporation BiH is still with Parliament. The battle between 55 Government and 32 Opposition members has been unobstructed by Government pressure, and for an urgent measure its progress has seemed somewhat leisurely.

Last week the ExportImport debate was replaced for a while by some fiery exchanges on the second reading debate of the Fire Services Amendment Bill. The clashes went as far back in time as Ballantyne’s fire, but it seems that the Opposition is firmly against this measure and the damage it is expected to do to volunteer fire brigades. Though several secondreading debates were disposed of, more than 20 measures remain on the Order Paper. Three more were added on Friday, and others have returned from their relevant committees. Indeed, there is not much to show for more than a month’s work except the disposal of the Address-in-Reply debate and the virtual completion of .the Export-Import measure.

The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) sounded a little discouraged when he spoke of the difficulties of “changing the old cycle” on Friday morning. It does seem as if the practice of sitting early each year will be continued, but more progress through the legislation left over from last November would provide a better reason for the early start. The Opposition has been active, with two more private members’ measures (the Education Amendment Bill and the Joint Family Homes Amendment Bill) but it is noticeable that the burden of Opposition is being carried by a small group of members, some of them no longer young. These few, at least, will need the recess for recuperation.

The Foreign Affairs debate which Mr Kirk has promised tonight and tomorrow is likely to be a wide-ranging one, covering most topics from the retention of New Zealand forces in South-East Asia to the fuel crisis, the new political posts in the Middle East and Africa (where Cairo and Addis Ababa are the likeliest focal points), and the significance of the Suez Canal reopening. Mr Kirk will leave for Rarotonga on Wednesday morning to attend the South Pacific Forum. During his absence the House is ex-

pected to carry on with legislation, the Government objective being to dispose of' as many measures as possible in the fortnight remaining before the recess. At least four new measures may be introduced before the House rises.

Defence plans

A firm denial that the Gov-1 ernment had changed its mind in the deployment of forces overseas was made by Mr R. P. B. Drayton (Lab., St Albans). “That the Labour Government, after consultation with treaty countries, will establish a reasonable date for the return home of lour forces is a quite proper ‘and reasonable procedure,” Mr Drayton said. “We have all seen the folly, the tragedy, and the disaster of other nations retaining forces in lands where they were no longer required, and indeed no longer welcome.”

On the transfer of New Zealand forces in Singapore from the integrated A.N.Z.tI.K. arrangement to .national commands (completed on January 31) he said: “A separate national 'command has enabled New {Zealand tp place a greater [emphasis on the national of its contribution. .There will be continued cooperation with British and j Australian forces in the area. Iparticularly in joint training, j