M P. will oppose Labour amendment

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 2

M P. will oppose Labour amendment

The National member of Parliament for Selwvn. Miss Ruth Richardson has denied suggestions that she may support an Opposition private member’s bill to try to amend the National Development Act. Mr M. K. Moore (Lab., Papanui), was reported in “The Press" of Saturday as saying that new Government members, such.as Miss Richardson and Mr S. D. Upton (Nat., Waikato), would have a “grand opportunity” to support the measures when they made their maiden speeches this week. . Mr Moore ,plans to introduce the amendment bill this week. Miss Richardson said yesterday that she would have “much pleasure" in opposing Mr Moore’s bill if she had the chance. She said of Mr Moore’s reported statement: "Mr Moore is inaccurate when he indicates that the content of my maiden speech has convinced him that I would have supported his National Development Amendment Bill.

“Firht, I have not made my maiden speech and, second, he has no monopoly on concern for environmental causes." Miss Richardson said that she had spoken to the Commissioner for the Environment. Mr K. Piddington, about the proposed amendment. "Mr Piddington does not regard himself handicapped in his scrutiny of environmental issues, as Mr Moore suggested,” she said. Miss Richardson said it was "ironic” that she could not debate the matter until she had made her maiden speech, set down for tomorrow evening. In . his statement, Mr Moore also said that he hoped-.that Ms Marilyn Waring (Nat., Waipaj, and Mr M. J. Minogue (Nat., Hamilton West), would maintain their past opposition to the act by crossing the floor of the House to support his proposed amendment.