Member’s behaviour termed an outrage

Press, 4 November 1983, Page 10

Member’s behaviour termed an outrage

PA ; Wellington Labour members of Parliament have claimed that the outspoken Government backbencher, Mr J. A. Banks, threw a submission at a , witness before a Parliamentary select committee and called him a .turkey./-.. . The Labour Party’s * >• : deputy deader, < Mr Palmer, > ..the. member ; for Otahuhu, J Mr E. E,;ls6ey;. and Mr E. y . M. Gerblc, the membef for.: Onehunga, - said . that. Mr . Banks’; conduct* -was <“an; . outrage->and demeaned, the ; .< proceedings of Parliament. , < S'WhenGapphbached/by re- r • ’pcn^sg-ifcJjanks/laughed .• and -renaed ; tP ■ J ton or -deny} the claima. ■>; The; Oppcßitum jinembersi'?: /said wefe ;‘'fed' ,; up' ! 4/ wfthGthfe?tjyay< the special ;; select committee' was con- ' / ducting hearings on the Industrial Law Reform ■ Bill. > /. -They ■ said ?the', bill • was being railroaded, through the committee and that .'witnesses were hot .being given a >er opportunity to be 1 the conduct bf iiffieGmember.; for. -Whangarei'(Mr'(Banks) v was'an Uage-ltey haid? - G? f t-U =}# Ihdnstries Clerical Officer’s y : : Industrial ;Unioh of Workem.; . J

“Having asked a provocative question and -got -an’ answer he ; did not like, he said to the witness, Tve had enough of you, you turkeyV’ The committee’s chairman, Mr G. B. Townshend, the National member for Kahnai, also would not confirm . on; deny the claimed details of Mr Banks’ behaviouri-• '■■ ; C*‘Wd?\did;:have •a -minor incident in. the committee Said. “It'has been satisfactorily; resolved. / “It is-a Committee where •; thefe is.cdnsiderable tension and ;I a firm direction.that in.the future. go through the>cteir.’?A”, ; '*-' /- :.>*fiie''desc!riSed- the?incident as:a“personalexchange’’' ? between?' Mrv Banks, and , a witness/ ,G" ' y ; i'.iGTheLaboui/imembers said thaj/faf-Gtdb-many submit sions, were ; .being scheduled for bearing/by the commit/ tee in a single session and that; several members on Wednesday .were denied the opportunity:to question'wit? nesses. s . < ' $ ,that /eigh’tGsiibfe ; scheduled for. /hearing/pn/'Wednesday ployer s Federation and NJZ.;, ; : orie of ,thi£ biggest; employers in the. . The hearing of such sub-;

missions cannot ;bei rushed,arG'theyaaid; ■ e . Mr Townshend deniqd i that the hearing of submissions was being rushed. He said that only one subnyssion was. not . heard yesterf ;dayG,'“a Wellingtori ■‘union, . which had asked Specially JG ; to come in as additional. It • has been-(rescheduled.” * ' ; He blamed ftfe/Opposjtioh ■< -meipbers'i'of/th’e'jcbmmittee r ;' <<or ,;askihg 'xjnes-