The day in Parliament

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 4

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington Parliament gave select committees the power, to sit during the recess when it sat at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. It then increased the number of members on the newly formed Disarmament Committee from 10 to 12.

The Road Safety Committee was instructed to consider clauses of the Road Transport Amendment Bill tightening up the law on drinking and driving. ' Members put seven notices of motion. Ministers answered 17 questions.

The Credit Contracts Amendment Act was granted the Royal Assent.

The Leader of the House (Mr Thomson) moved that urgency be taken to enable select committee reports to be heard, and the Ellesmere County Council (Lump Sum Contributions) Empowering Bill and the Transport Amendment Bill (No. 2) to be passed. The motion was ccarried on a 37-34 division. The Statues Revision Committee reported back on the Domestic Violence and Law Reform Bills. The House agreed that, the Domestic Violence Bill be returned to the select committee for further consideration, to widen its provisions, and that the bill be circulated and submissions sought. The Law Reform Bill was set down for a second reading. The House rose for the dinner adjournment at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. when the chairman of the Petitions Committee, Mr C. B. Townshend (Nat., Kaimai), reported back without recommendation the petition of Mr H. McDowell and 780 others calling for an amnesty for those arrested during ’ the Springbok tour last year. The chairman of the Health and Social Welfare Select Committee, Mr R. M. Gray (Nat., Clutha) reported back, with amendments, the Chiropractors Bill. The bill was set down for a second reading on the next sitting day. The chairman of the

Labour and Education Select Committee. Mr R. L. Bell (Nat., Gisborne), reported back the Education Amendment Bill (No. 3) with a recommendation that the bill be withdrawn, and this was accepted. The Education Amendment Bill (No. 2) was also reported back, with amendments, and set down for a second reading. The Ellesmere County Council (Lump Sum Contributions) ' Emjxwering Bill went through its final stages. The Transport Licensing ' Bill (No. 2) was finallypassed on a division of 39-37 after prolonged debate on each of its four clauses. The Opposition forced 10 divisions on the bill, fighting all but the clause which kept license fees at their existing level for the remainder of this licence year. The Opposition spokesman on transport, Mr R. W. Prebble (Lab.. Auckland Central). proposed three amendments to the bill, ail of which were defeated after divisions. After, the four clauses of the Bill were allowed to stand as written. Mr Prebble proposed an amendment to scrap the schedule of fees, setting both registration and licence charges. The Minister of Transport (Mr Gair) noted that the effect of the amendment would be to scuttle the entire bill. It was lost on a division.