What M.P.s were saying Thar, perks, housing, and a plea for women J.P.s

Press, 11 October 1976, Page 2

What M.P.s were saying Thar, perks, housing, and a plea for women J.P.s

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

It was a week of South Island subjects, interspersed with person-in-the-street discussions about superannuation and other subjects close to home.

The petition for the retention of thar was not successful — but it was not a failure, either. Thar reserves have been kept away from areas bordering on South Canterbury, but the protagonists of the energetic, high-skill sport of thar-hunt-ing were left with hopes of protected areas on the western side of the Southern Alps. Mr R. L. G. Talbot (NatSouth Canterbury) said that the petition had brought forward some interesting submissions. ‘This does not necessarily mean the death of recreational shooting.” he said. “It simply means that thar in large numbers will not be allowed to inhabit certain classes of country.” He explained that the Lands and Agriculture Committee had been able to take a balanced look at a longstanding issue, centred on the high country of South Canterbury. During the last few decades, thar had reached as far north as the Arthur’s Pass National Park, and as far south as Lake Hawea — although there were fewer thar now than a few years ago. ‘They have changed their habitat to areas of bush country on the West Coast and pockets of bush on the eastern side of the Divide. There will always be thar for sportsmen to shoot — but not in class 7 and 8 country. And there will not be the large numbers that some sportsmen and safari operators would like to see.” He suggested that sporting organisations should divert their interests to class 6 and better areas, where erosion problems were not likely to exist.

Mr R. P. B- Drayton (Lab., St Albans) made the point

very clearly during discussion on the Defence Estimates that the main reason why New Zealand forces were in Singapore was for New Zealand’s convenience. “Any slight shift of political emphasis or alliance could mean that the force will be brought back from Singapore sooner than the Government would wish” said Mr Drayton. He urged the Minister of Defence to use this “breath-ing-time” to erect housing, amenities, barracks blocks and so on, necessary to accommodate the thousand or so personnel who would be affected.

“I hope the Minister will continue to accelerate the

programme initiated by the member for St Kilda (Mr Fraser) when Minister of Defence. Many sendees houses, built well before World War 11, are due for replacement soon. The most urgent need is for new accommodation at Devonport Naval Base.” Mr Drayton advocated an increase in exchange postings overseas and more unit exchanges between New Zealand and Australia, Singapore and HawaiiWomen in Justice During discussion on the Justice Department Estimates, Mrs M. D. Batchelor (Lab., Avon) drew attention to promises in the National Party for increased participation by women in the judicial system.

“The Government's action has pointed to a different attitude.” said Mrs Batchelor. “New Zealand women waited for the appointment of more women justices of the peace. The report of the Department of Justice stated that a course, coupled with additional training by magistrates and registrars, would be necessary before ’he’ would be able to preside over proceedings within the

• jurisdiction of justices of the ■ peace. The use of the mascui line pronoun has a hollow > ring for women.” She asked the Minister of Justice (Mr Thomson) to en- ■ courage more women to be- • come justices of the peace. • “If the onus of putting i women’s names forward were > to be placed on members of Parliament, many people would say that it was pass- ■ ing the buck,” said Mrs . Batchelor. “Of 215 persons appointed j as justices of the peace this . year, only 45 were women. . The only woman magistrate , was appointed under a ' Labour Government.” Ministers’ perks Mr N. J. Kirk (Lab.. Sydenham) said during discussion of the Welfare Estimates that the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker) had been on a radio taik-back programme in an attempt to explain his attitude towards soln parents. The talk-back host had confronted the Minister with the statement that he received a good wage, a free house, and a free colour television set, with the li-cence-fee paid by the State. In reply, the Minister had said that the house and wage were part of his job, but that the Labour Government had instituted the practice of providing members of Parliament with colour television sets. A National Government would not necessarily have done so. “On the basis of that argument, the Minister should donate the set to a social welfare institution, or a ■ home with foster children,” said Mr Kirk. i Honing views

Differing opinions were expressed during debate on the Housing Estimates on Thursday night.

Mr D. F. Quigley (National, Rangiora) contrasted the Government’s policy of encouraging people to save for home ownership with the Labour policy “which appeared to encourage those who did little or nothing for themselves.”

During Labour’s three years, the price of sections in Christchurch had increased 175 per cent — or, on average, $7OBl a section. The Labour Government had limited the total in-going cost of a section and house in areas such as Christchurch to $20,000, and in places such as Rangiora and Belfast to $23,000.

It was planned to build 1250 State houses over the next three years. The reason 3042 houses had been built in 1975-6 had been because people could not afford to build their own homes. Many people in Rangiora had been frustrated because the State houses being built there were larger than the houses they could afford to build. In fact they cost a lot more, he said. Mr B. G. Barclay (Labour, Christchurch Central) said that in the previous year, 10 State houses had been built in Rangiora, compared with two projected this year. Under the National Government, Housing Corporation loan authorisations in Christchurch for 24 weeks had been 845 — which on an annual basis represented 1850 — compared with 2800 in the last year of the Labour Government. Loan allocations in Christchurch had been reduced by 40 per cent and family benefit capitalisation by more than 50 per cent. Mrs M. Batchelor (Labour, Avon) said that when the National Government assumed office, the Housing Corporation was told not to accept any more applications.