The day in Parliament

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 2

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington .Parliament.-sat. beyond its. normal'“Friday hours when it resumed the second reading debate on the Union Membership Bill at 9.30 a.m. The Leader of the House, Mr Palmer said next week’s business in the House would cover legislation on the Order Paper except on Wednesday, when there would be discussion on Ministerial replies to questions and private Members’ notices of motion. : ■■ Legislation listed, is headed by the Union Membership Bill. Mr Palmer also said that Government and Opposition Whips were discussing ways in which the Opposition’s offer to facilitate passage of the second item on .the Order Paper, the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, could be taken up. He hoped it would .be dealt with next week. Ministers answered 17 questions. Members presented eight notices of motion. The House received a message from the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir David Beattie, saying that he had approved appropriation for the Union Membership Bill and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, made a statement on a question asked by Mr W. R. Peters (Nat., Tauranga).

The House took urgency on the second reading of the Union Membership Bill, in a

division won by the Government, 37-25. At 1 p.m., the House adjourned for lunch, and resumed debate at 2 p.m. - After almost five hours of debate the • bill was given a second reading on a division won by the Government, 38-25. By the same margin an Opposition amendment by Mr v. S. Young (Nat., Waitotara) proposing to delay the bill was defeated.'

The House rose at 4.40 p.m.