Mr Lange reluctant to leave debate

Press, 29 September 1979, Page 6

Mr Lange reluctant to leave debate

PA Wellington : The Labour member for i Mangere. Mr D. R. Lange, t was in hoi water in Parlia- J ment yesterday when he 'temporarily refused to retire i to the “sin bin.” t Fhe “sin bin' is an inno- < vation of the Speaker (Mr < Harrison) who has adopted a practice of asking members I to leave the debating chain- < (her for a short time when i (they transgress in a mild I way. I I the only device he has for 'punishing members is a Standing Order that says I (they must be banned for the l rest of the day. But when he applied the t lesser penalty yesterday. Mr I Lange refused to budge. ii The incident occurred dur- i ing Question Time when the ( Minister of Police (Mr Gill);! was asked by the Labour member for New Lynn. Mr J. L. Hunt, to name teachers in South Auckland who had been referred to as neoMarxists, in news reports. Mr Gill replied that he could name an “ex one” which Mr Hunt, a former teacher, took as a ' personal attack by obvious implica-] tion.” When called upon bv the

Speaker to explain what he meant. Mr Gill said he thought Mr Hunt held neoMarxist beliefs. This drew shouts of indignation from the Opposition and the Speaker was called on to rule the remark out of order Amid growing confusion. Mr Harrison called for order and asked Mr Lange, who was interjecting, if he -would like to leave the House while the matter was dealt with, Mr Lange; Yes. I would. But then Mr Lange, in a booming voice, tried to continue speaking. j This prompted the Speaker to threaten to ban Mr Lange from the chamber for the (rest of the day. There were cries of “shocking" from the Opposition benches and Mr ;R. I, Bailey (Heretaunga)

told the Speaker: “You have gone too far." Mr Lange again refused to leave at the Speaker's request. The situation then assumed gigantic proportions with visions of the huge Mr Lange having to be physically removed from the chamber. But this was avoided when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) rose to offer his advice and 'Mr Lange quietly disappeared from the chamber. Gill withdrew and apologised al the Speaker’s request and Mr Lange returned a short lime later During the exchange Mr Hunt took the opportunity of putting the record straight by announcing his views were based on "Christian socialist principles.”