Seat not M.P.s’ 'by right’

Press, 3 September 1984, Page 8

Seat not M.P.s’ 'by right’

PA Invercargill Seats in the Parliamentary debating chamber do not belong to the M.P.S by right when Parliament is not in session, the Speaker, Sir Basil Arthur, said yesterday. Sir Basil was commenting in an interview from Timaru on the decision of

the Invercargill member of Parliament, Mr Norman Jones, to occupy his seat in the chamber during the Government’s Economic Summit Conference. “He (Mr Jones) says that that is his seat,” Sir Basil said. “That is true when Parliament is sitting. When

Parliament is not sitting, it is not the case.” Sir Basil said he had received a request from the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, to use the chamber for the summit conference and he had considered the request as well as the Opposition’s objections to it He had decided it would be a proper use of the chamber, taking into account precedent The chamber was the most convenient and economic venue for the summit because of the 'facilities available, Sir Basil said.

Asked whether he had any power to have Mr Jones physically removed from the chamber if he insisted on occupying his seat, Sir Basil said Standing Orders applied only when Parliament was in session.

This meant he would not have any authority over what took place during the conference, and it would be

up to the organisers and those in charge to make decisions relating to Mr Jones.

“I am hoping, frankly, that there will be no need for anything to take place officially,” he said. “I hope members realise that it is a proper use for which approval has been given, and by giving that approval, Standing Orders have been complied with.”

Mr Jones said he is sticking to his guns and intends to occupy his seat during the conference, even though he has not been invited to it

“What Fm doing is what people ought to have been, doing years ago making a stand against the increasing take-over of our unions by Communists,” he said. He particularly objects to Socialist Unity Party members being among those invited to attend the conference.