What the M.P.s were saying

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 2

What the M.P.s were saying

Misinformation claim

Parliamentary reporter The Opposition, like the Government, did not want to be a party to misinformation on legislation allowing a pilot scheme for sex education in Forms 1 and 2, said Miss Ruth Richardson (Nat., Selwyn). It was distressing that there were forces in the community that had taken their legitimate opposition to the legislation to the length where they discredited their cause by “departing from the truth of the matter.”

These people did a disservice to their cause by engaging in extremism that surrendered reliance on the truth, she said. This legislation, which the Opposition supported, was an important step in an enlightened society that, if it wanted responsible sexual

behaviour, could not expect responsibility based on ignorance.

House surgeons

Some 633 house surgeons would be required to staff New Zealand hospitals from November 25,1985, said Mrs Margaret Austin (Lab., Yaldhurst). It would be necessary to recruit some people from abroad. Next year there would be 55 fewer graduates from New Zealand medical schools, which meant there were 55 fewer house surgeons available, so some would have to be recruited abroad.

New working hours negotiated for house surgeons meant that probably 150 would have to be sought overseas, she said. Adult adoption The evidence for change in the laws governing adult adoption information was now overwhelming, said Mr Jim Gerard (Nat., Rangiora). Only one reservation remained—the need to pro- t

tect the people already within the system. Their fear, whether imaginary or real, was that they believed it would be extremely difficult for them to cope if their identity was exposed. The proposed legislation was retrospective, and wariness was needed over that aspect of it, he said.