The day in Parliament

Press, 31 May 1985, Page 4

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington Members stood in silence for the late former member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, Mr Arthur Faulkner, when Parliament sat at 2.55 p.m. yesterday. Mr Faulkner, who died on May 15, was member for Roskill from 1957 to 1981 and Minister of Defence, Works and Development, Labour, and State Services in the Labour Government of 1972-75. Mr V. S. Young (Nat., Waitotara) presented the petition of Dr J. P. McMenamim and 1382 others praying that the House pass legislation to recognise unborn children as human persons throughout pregnancy. The Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, presented the petition of Valerie R. Insley and the Tamaki Estuary Protection Society and 1808 others asking the House to pass legislation to ban commercial and private net-setting on the Tamaki River and in rivers, estuaries, and inland waters where it adversely affects recreational pursuits and wildlife. Mr S. D. Upton (Nat., Raglan) presented the petitions of Maud Ditchburn and 34 others, Dorothy Herival and 26 others, Jennifer Wallis and 183 others, Christopher Gough and 84 others, Cheryl Amphlett and 218 others, Jocelyn Styles and 48 others, and Ann Wilson and 159 others, all praying that the House reject the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Mr R. J. Northey (Lab., Eden) presented the petition of Barbara Smith and the Auckland branch of the Nurses’ Association and 66 others praying that the House repeal the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Act, 1983.

Mr R. F. H. Maxwell (Nat., Taranaki) presented the petition of the Stratford branch of the Nurses’ Association and 103 others also appealing for the repeal of the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Act. The Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, tabled the report of the Securities Commission for the year ended March, 1985, and tabled the report of the Prisons Parole Board for the year ended December, 1984. Members presented 10 notices of motion. Ministers answered 19 questions. The Minister of Lands, Mr Wetere, brought in the Survey Bill which was introduced and referred to the Land and Agriculture Select Committee. Dr B. C. Gregory (Lab., Northern Maori) reported back the Maori Purposes Bill, with amendments, from the Maori Affairs Select Committee. It was set down for a second reading next sitting day. The Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, moved that the Imprest Supply Bill be introduced and it received its first reading when the House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

Members then began debating the second reading. Because the Leader of the House, Mr Palmer, moved that the Government should take urgency on the Imprest Supply Bill when Mr Douglas brought it to the House, debate continued past Parliament’s usual time or rising, 10.30 p.m. It was continuing at 11 p.m. The bill received its second and third readings and the House then rose at 11.33 p.m.