Cattish debate in Parliament

Press, 20 October 1976, Page 1

Cattish debate in Parliament

PA Wellington Parliament argued for 20 minutes yesterday afternoon about legal changes which at first —under the Labour Government —prohibited cats from shops, and subsequently—under National—allowed them in. During several fiery exchanges, Dr A. M. Finlay (Lab., Henderson) called the Government’s change in the regulations a “semantic taradiddle” and the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) labelled Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Timaru) a “cat hater.” Dr Finlay said the original regulations prohibiting

cats in shops had been introduced by the Health Department at the urging of the World Health Organisation, which had given warning that animals, including cats, could carry diseases. He referred to promises made by Mr Muldoon during the election campaign last year that he would see that cats were allowed back in shops; Dr Finlay said he supposed that in the end the Health Department had to come up with something that pleased everyone, and the result was a piece of “semantic taradiddle.”

Cats were now let in shops “for such time as was reasonably necessary to suppress rodents.” Mr Muldoon said the former Minister of Health, (Mr McGuigan) was prepared to exclude cats from shops, but not from dwelling houses. “It is perfectly in order to have cats in your home, to have them in your bed, to have them climb all around the table from which you take your food, to have them in your kitchen, to have your children cuddle and kiss them . s . That is perfectly in order under a Labour Gov-

eminent, but it is not in order to have them in your shops for the purpose of catching rats and mice.” Sir Basil Arthur said no amount of waffling by the Prime Minister could cover the point that the Government was caught squarely on a broken promise. Mr R. W. Prebble (Lab., Auckland Central) said cats were allowed into shops only to chase rodents. That ruled out kittens and elderly cats. What sort of test could be applied to determine whether cats were able to chase rodents? he said. Opposition interjector: “A warrant of kitness.”