M.P.s belled for quorum
PA Wellington Members had to be summoned to the debating chamber at Parliament last evening by the ringing of the bells after it was discovered there was no quorum. Mr G. T. Knapp (Socred,East Coast Bays) raised a point of order during the Forestry Department debate asking whether there was a quorum. According to Parliament’s Standing Orders the quorum of the House or a committee of the House shall be 20, including the Speaker or the chairman of committees. A quick count at 9.50 p.m.
showed only 19 members present. Mr J. F. Luxton, who was chairing the debate, rang the division bells briefly summoning members to the chamber, while the Acting Senior Government Whip, Mr M. E. C. Cox, went into the lobby and returned with two colleagues. Mr Knapp said later that it was up to the Opposition to ensure there was a quorum in the House. He had felt the numbers were very low and believed members had a responsibility to maintain a reasonable level of attendance.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19831109.2.98
Bibliographic details
Press, 9 November 1983, Page 12
Word Count
174M.P.s belled for quorum Press, 9 November 1983, Page 12
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.