Era near end for Parliament

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 2

Era near end for Parliament

NZPA political correspondent

, . Wellington Parliament will open this afternoon against a background of political uncertainties unprecedented in New Zealand’s post-World War II parliamentary history. These uncertainties centre on whether this third session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament will be the last of the post-war years dominated by the National and Labour parties without a need for either to seek accommodation with a minority party, such as Social Credit, to govern effectively. . This factor adds excitement to an election-year session which promises to be of significance, not only because it is election year but because debate is frequently likely to focus on widely differing programmes of economic growth the three parties hold out for the country over the next decade. Political personalities of all three parties believe the session will be notable for vigorous debate as each party strives to impress the electorate with its capacity to govern and to represent the beliefs of a majority of the voting population. Legislative innovation is rare in election year. This year, however, the Government promises a comprehensive review of the controversial Mining Act. Prospects are held out for changes in the Accident Compensation. Act and the Public Works Act. Significant changes are expected to be proposed in law relating to credit transactions. Health matters are expected to be reviewed when contemplated changes are brought forward to deal with thslaw relating to the sale of medicines. A conscience vote is likely on reform of adoption laws aimed at giving adopted people and their natural parents a right of access to adoption records. The Government’s legislative programme, however, is likely to be overshadowed by

debate cn such issues as

taxation, management of Air / New Zealand, general avia-

tion administration, Government administrative competency, and the Government's refusal to stop the Springbok rugby tour. Within both the Government and the Labour Party younger Cabinet Ministers and members of Parliament will assume higher profiles in debate than during past sessions of this Parliament. In the case of the Government this follows the Cabinet reshuffle carried out by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) early this year after announcements of pending retirements by senior Government figures. Among those who will probably assume stronger debating roles are the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch), the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger), the Postmaster-Gen-eral (Mr Cooper), and the Minister of Housing (Mr Quigley). On the Labour side nostalgia may show out when observers contemplate the Opposition benches. Filling these out will be former senior figures of the last Labour Government of 197275. Among them will be a former Minister of Labour (Mr Faulkner), a former Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer), a former Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Walding) and a former Minister of Railways (Mr Bailey). - * All these members are due to retire at the next election.

Filling out the Labour front benches in addition to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) and his deputy (Mr Lange), will be the members for Pencarrow (Mr F. M. Colman), for Wigram (Mr M. A. Connelly), for Otahuhu (Mr R. J. Tizard) for Timaru (Sir Basil Arthur) for Wanganui (Mr C. R. Marshall) and for Western Maori (Mr K. T. Wetere. ; . The ceremonial opening of Parliament will take place today and will include the Speech from the Throne in which the Governor-General (Sir David Beattie) twill outline the Government’s legislative programme. Debate will begin tomorrow morning when members debate issues which may be raised during discussion .of legislation to sanction Government expenditure. .