The day in Parliament

Press, 5 November 1983, Page 2

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington Parliament will have a shortened sitting on Wednesday next week because backbenchers will attend a function hosted by the GovernorGeneral, Sir David Beattie. The Leader of the House, Mr Thomson, said when Parliament sat at 9.30 a.m. yesterday that the Estimates would be debated on Tuesday and Thursday. The Estimates to be considered on Tuesday would be Tourist and Publicity, Post Office, Lands and Survey, Forest Service, Valuation, Statistics, Inland Revenue, Customs, Government Life Insurance, State Insurance Office, Earthquake and War Damage Commission, Housing Corporation, Works and Development, and the Building Performance Guarantee Corporation. Ministerial replies to questions would be discussed on Wednesday afternoon, .Mr Thomson said, and local bills, if any, on Thursday afternoon. The rest of the week would be taken up by legislation on the Order Paper. Because of the backbenchers’ function at Government House, Parliament would sit from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, he said. The Speaker, Sir Richard Harrison, ruled that an Opposition notice of motion could not be put because it dealt with proceedings of a select committee before the committee had reported back to the House. Members moved two notices of motion. The Maori Purposes Bill was introduced by the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Couch, and referred to the Maori Affairs Select Committee. Members of the Lands and Agriculture Select Committee will be invited to attend to discuss appropriate clauses. Ministers answered 16 questions, and the chairman of the Disarmament and Arms Control Select Committee answered one. The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill (No. 2) were reported back, the War Pensions Amendment Bill, and the Companies Amendment Bill from select committees. The chairman of the Commerce and Energy Select Committee, Mr D. L. Kidd (Nat., Marlborough) reported that the commitee had no recommendation to make on two petitions asking that- Parliament reject the Transport Amendment Bill (No. 5). Debate began on the committee stage of the Air Services Licensing Amendment Bill but was interrupted when the House rose at 1 p.m.