The week in the House

Press, 29 October 1977, Page 2

The week in the House

A week of Scorpio — and a sting in the tail

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

This has been another odd week in Parliament. Quiet and progressive on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, it claimed its position under the sign of Scorpio by producing not one but several stings in its tail. A week otherwise noted for mild progress with Estimates, for the introduction of several interesting bills, and for unspectacular progress through the Order Paper, erupted yesterday morning. First there was the announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) of his economic package. Then there was an unsuccessful challenge by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) to debate the package there and then.

Next came the taking of urgency for the committee stage of the Security Intelligence Service Amendment Bill, followed immedi-

ately by an amendment by Mr M. A. Connelly (Lab., Wigram) to have the bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. This was lost by 24 votes to 40 — but it was 12.10 p.m. before the House finally settled down to argue the committee stage of the bill.

It was an odd contrast to the early part of the week. Parliament started late on Tuesday because of a Parliamentary luncheon to a delegation from “the mother of Parliament,” and also on Wednesday, because of the buffet luncheon which followed the swearing-in of the Governor-General (Sir Keith Holyoake).

Under the influence of an official luncheon, the House moved sedately ahead with Estimates on Tuesday, Wednesday was almost a repetition, except that some Opposition members, having boycotted the Governor-Gen-eral’s luncheon, were in live-

lier mood. Measures introduced included the Racing Amendment Bill and the Society of Accountants Amendment Bill.

In accordance with recent practice, urgency was accorded the first seven items on the Order Paper so that the House would sit until midnight. The Health Amendment Bill was withdrawn, and four other measures were advanced to the stage where only the rubberstamp third reading is needed to complete their passage. They are the Moneylenders Amendment Bill, the Human Rights Commission Bill, the Carter Observatory Amendment Bill, and the Development Finance Amendment (No. 2) Bill. During Thursday there was more progress with Estimates, which could well be completed on Tuesday next. There is some difference of opinion about this among

Government: members, but if the full list of Estimates is not completed on Tuesday, it probably will be on Thursday. Otherwise the week ahead will be devoted to legislation. Then came yesterday — and the sting in the scorpion’s tail. This could unsettle any predictions for what happens in the week ahead. Mr Muldoon is determined that the bill must go through, and has given about as much ground as can be expected. The final stage could occupy part of Wednesday. A rather unexpected development of this week occurred on Wednesday evening, when Mrs T. W. M. Tirikatene-Sullivan (Labour, Southern Maori) made a spirited attempt to have children’s rights specially mentioned in the Human Rights Commission Bill. She forced two divisions, but lost both of them.