Equal throne rights sought

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 13

Equal throne rights sought

NZPA staff correspondent London A British Labour member of .Parliament. Mr Michael , English, says he will continue campaigning for women to have equal rights of succession to the British Throne. The birth of a son to the .Princess of Wales has made the question less urgent, but Mr English says the principle is “not going to go away." "The question is simply the equality of the sexes.” he said. Mr English introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons to give women equal rights to succeed to the .Throne. However, it is still waiting for a second reading, and he admits that

this is now unlikely. “I was letting my little bill sleep until we saw what happened." he said. “Had the Princess of Wales had a daughter, I would have gone campaigning across the Commonwealth to preserve her rights as heir apparent." If the baby had been a Princess instead of a Prince she would have lost her place in line of succession to the throne if the Prince and Princess of Wales later had a son. Mr English argues that the first child should succeed to the Throne, whether it is a girl or a boy. He wrote to the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), and heads of other Commonwealth countries which

recognise the Queen as their Sovereign, asking if they wanted to be included in his bill. However Mr Muldoon said that the New Zealand Government was not prepared to take a position on a private member's bill. The Social Credit Leader (Mr Beetham) failed in his attempt to introduce a similar bill in the New Zealand Parliament. The British Government made it clear that, while it would not stop Mr English's bill being debated, it was not going to get anywhere. But Mr English says he has support from members in all parties in the House of Commons. He argues strongly that his bill is in line with the United

Nations convention on the j elimination of discrimination i against women. ; This has been signed by < Britain and New Zealand but ; not yet ratified by them. The convention requires ’ governments to repeal or 1 amend laws which discrimi- > nate against women. They .- are required to ensure that ; women have the right to hold ■ public ’ office and perform public functions at all levels : of government. “The United Nations convention will not go away," ■ Mr English said. "The question is: Does New i Zealand want to ratify a ' convention it has signed? I would think at least half the ’ New Zealand population • would support it."