The day in Parliament

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 6

The day in Parliament

Parliament began sitting at 2.30 p.m. yesterday, when the special select committee to consider the Westpac Banking Corporation Bill was named.

Mr J. F. Luxton (Nat, Matamata) will chair the committee. Other members are the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Templeton), Mr D. F. Caygill (Lab., St Albans). Mr M. E. Cox (Nat., Manawatu), and Mr R. J. Tizard (Lab., Otahuhu). Reports tabled were from the National Library, the Government Statistician, and the Local Authorities Loans Board.

Members moved 11 notices of motion.

The Minister in charge of War Pensions (Mr Thomson) introduced the War Pensions Amendment Bill which was given its first reading. It was set down for second reading the next sitting day.

Ministers answered 17 questions. Mr R. W. Prebble’s private member’s Auckland City Council (Water Rates and Charges) Empowering Bill, enabling the council to charge for stormwater and sewerage facilities in rates, was introduced and referred to the Local Bills Committee.

The petition of Miljenko Srhoj and 750 others asking for an extension of the Main Trunk railway to Kaitaia and Mangonui boroughs was reported back from the Petitions Committee and recommended for the Government’s consideration.

Attached to the report was a rider recommending that the Government’s favourable consideration be given to funding a study of the transport needs of the far north. The Accident Compensation Amendment (No. 2) Bill was reported back by the Labour and Education Committee without further debate and was formally set down for a second reading. The bill is not being proceeded with by the Government.

Members debated private members’ notices of motion until 5.30 p.m. when the House adjourned for dinner.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. and the debate on the Appropriation Bill — the Budget debate — continued. Speakers were Mr R. J. Tizard (Lab., Otahuhu), the Minister of Maori Affairs, (Mr Couch), Mr F. D. O'Flynn (Lab., Island Bay), Mr E. C. Cox (Nat., Manawatu), Mr D. J. Butcher (Lab., Hastings), and Miss Ruth Richardson (Nat., Selwyn).

The debate was interrupted when the House rose at 10.30 p.m. It will continue today.