The day in Parliament

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 8

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington Mr A. P. D. Friedlander (Nat., New Plymouth) raised a point of order concerning Parliamentary leave for the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, when Parliament sat at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. The Stockman-Howe Marriage Bill was given its third reading. Members presented eight notices of motion. Ministers answered 21 questions. The chairman of the Petitions Committee, Mrs Mary Batchelor (Lab., Avon), reported on the petitions of B. F. Dougherty and 18 others, M. B. O’Neill and 20 others, Olga Pedder and 80 others, E. I. Savage and 19 others, Esme Murphy and 25 others, Colleen McHardy and 164 others, Elizabeth O’Neill and 110 others, Carl A. R. Larsen and 72 others, and Roen Vink praying that Parliament pass legislation recognising unborn children as human persons; and the petition of the Rev. John Wilson and 170 others praying that Parliament recommend that the Government urgently restore the full protection of law to all unborn children. The House agreed to table the report and refer it to the Government for consideration. Mrs Batchelor then presented the committee’s report on the petition of W. A. C. Abbis, chairman of the Oroua County Council, praying that the Local Government Act, 1974, be amended so that the existence of united councils is not mandatory but at the option of the relevant local authorities. The report was tabled and referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Mrs Batchelor also presented the committee’s report on the petition .of Bette Overell, of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, and 3100 others praying that the House make illegal the lethal dose 50 test in New Zealand. The report was tabled and referred to the Government for favourable consideration. The chairman of the Commerce and Energy Committee, Mr W. P. Jeffries (Lab., Heretaunga), reported back the Statistics Amendment Bill and the Copyright Amendment Bill. Th? chairman of the Statutes Revision Committee, Dr M. J. Cullen (Lab., St Hilda) reported back on the delegated legislation study dealing with clause 3a of the Milk Marketing Order, 1968. Mr R. J. Northey (Lab., Eden) then reported back an interim report on electoral law, with recommendations for law changes. Members completed the interrupted debate on the Road Safety Committee report on the Transport Amendment Bill (No 4). The Minister of Agricutlure, Mr Moyle, then moved the introduction of the Plant Variety Rights Bill. The bill was introduced and referred to the Lands and Agriculture Select Committee. The House adjourned for dinner at 5.27 p.m. The Budget debate continued when the House resumed sitting at 7.30 p.m., and was interrupted when the House rose at 10.30 p.m.