The week in the House

Press, 18 August 1979, Page 2

The week in the House

Slow progress—but signs of an ending

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

This has been a week in which not even the return of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) has interrupted the general lethargy. Perhaps this was because all parties were occupied in Christchurch Central, but Parliament seemed to continue at a very low key. The discussion of Estimates is only plodding along on one day a week, with a similar ration for the week ahead, and 12 more days remain before the main Estimates are disposed of. The Order Paper is still not crowded, with only 15 items on it, but if this rate of progress contiilues there is no likelihood of Parliament talking itself out of business. The week started with two Budget measures—the Social Security Amendment Bill and the Ward Pensions Amendment Bill—heading the Order Paper. They still occupy this position, with their committee stages still to be completed. Another trio of Budget

measures, including the huge Income Tax Amendment Bill,

of 104 printed quarto pages, came into the House on Thursday. Again we were treated to a two-hour acceptance debate, although Opposition members could have had no real understanding of what it contained. Perhaps some day the House will go back to the old system, whereby a new bill was quickly admitted, read a first time, then fully dealt with in later second reading and committee stages.

Certain other measures, such as the Pesticides Bill, the Toxic Substances Bill, the Restricted Drugs Amendment Bill, and the Coal Mines Bill, seem to have been going as long as the session.

Many members are worried about the apparent slip in the status of Parliament. This has shown in discussions of notices of motion which emphasise that too much of the country’s business is being done by regulation and order-in-council. Unfortunately for its protagonists, this is only partially true, and there is no solution in making it the subject of a party political wrangle.

Another main point of Opposition attack has been the Budget alteration of the superannuation rates. Mr M. A. Connelly (Lab., Yaldhurst) has made this his speciality. Another subject is showing — the aggregation of businesses by take-over and purchase. Mr J. A. Walding (Lab., Palmerston North) said on Wednesday evening that within 10 year’s some 90 per cent of New Zealand businesses would be in the hands of 10 companies.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Leader of the House (Mr Thomson) gave notice of moving next Tuesday that Government business would take precedence on Wednesdays. This means that “private members’ day** will

disappear, and infers that the Government will apply pressure to finish quickly. But the Estimates nave to be completed, and the Supplementary Estimates dealt with. Also, there is some important legislation yet to arrive.. Perhaps the Government has remembered that Labour Day js early this year? 1 Yesterday saw a crisp debate on the Parliamentary Powers Bill, a private member’s bill by Mis Ann Hercus (Lab., Lyttelton). It was denied consideration by the Statutes Revision Committee, but seems assured of a second reading.