Govt blocks Prebble bid

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 21

Govt blocks Prebble bid

PA Wellington The Government has blocked a Labour Party move to broaden the terms of reference for a new Parliamentary select committee on nuclear disarmament. The move was made as an amendment to a Government notice of motion setting up the committee. The amendment was lost. 39 votes to 40. The two Social Credit members voted with the Opposition. The committee was suggested by the Government as a compromise after it blocked a private member's bill by the member of Parliament for Auckland

Central, Mr R. W. Prebble, which proposed to make New Zealand a nuclear-free zone. The Government said that the committee should discuss nuclear disarmament and report back to Parliament on it. Mr Prebble. however, wanted the committee to do more, and moved his amendment that the committee could also discuss his bill and prepare an interim report before the United Nations special session on disarmament met next month. Ms Marilyn Waring /Nat.Waipa) said that the amendment would split the committee of six National members and four Labour.

By leaving the motion as it was the committee would work as a “cohesive unit." By changing it, the committee’s terms of reference would be narrowed.

Ms Waring said that international conferences on disarmament were "charades" and hypocritical, because they did hot prevent arms being sold.

Mr Prebble said that there was no point in having the select committee meet if it did not report back before the United Nations special session.

“I wonder if the Government is serious about this committee," Mr Prebble said. Its terms of reference as they stood were absurd.