P.M. ‘tripped over’ on women’s issue

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 1

P.M. ‘tripped over’ on women’s issue

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, has admitted he “tripped over” in saying the Government would not ratify the United Nations convention on discrimination against women. He said that the issue would be a conscience one for National candidates.

Sir Robert said on a radio talk-back show last week that his Government would not ratify the convention. He was attacked by a National member of Parliament, Ms Marilyn Waring, and many feminist groups for his statements.

But on Saturday he told 250 people at the Wellington divisional conference of the National Party that he had “tripped over a curly question,” during the talk-back. “I tripped over that one ... I wasn’t well enough briefed on some of the material we had already put out from Parliament Buildings.”

He was referring to a document prepared by the Government research unit, which Ms Waring said favoured ratification. Sir Robert said the research unit was now issuing to all candidates a clear

statement setting out, without any bias, both sides of the case.

It would be up to each candidate to decide their own position on the issue, he said.

A remit committee of the conference later passed a resolution calling on the Government not to ratify the convention. .

Mrs Barbara Mason, Wairarapa, said the convention represented subtle infiltration by socialist and communist philosophy. It would take away the rights of parents to decide where and how their children were educated.

Mr David Purkis, Heretaunga, said the convention would mean altering the language of the Bible. Instead of referring to Christ as the Son of God, he would have to be known as the “offspring of Parent.”

Mr David Schnellenberg, Young Nationals, said the Government should ratify the convention. It was a symbolic gesture only and would not affect New Zealand law.

The remit committee also .resolved by 27 votes to 24 that the domestic purposes benefit be abolished. The benefit should be replaced with an emergency child maintenance benefit to be paid only under specific circumstances such as the death of a parent or the default of maintenance payments for some genuine reason.

However, the full conference narrowly rejected the remit yesterday.

Remit committees also called for:

© Heavier penalties for crimes against property, with more emphasis on restitution for the victim. © A referendum on whether to introduce corporal punishment for violent offences for a three-year trial.

© Raising the speed limit from 80km/h to lOOkm/h. © The 1984 election manifesto to promise a reduction of the Government deficit to no more than 4 per cent within three years. The full conference called for a progressive reduction in primary school class sizes to 25 in the light of falling school rolls and surplus teachers. It also called for Government moves to encourage increased immigration of people with enough means to house and support themselves in New Zealand.