Keep conscience vote or I resign—M.P.

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 22

Keep conscience vote or I resign—M.P.

PA Levin A Labour member of Parliament has said he will resign if the conscience vote for members is removed. Mr Geoff Braybrooke, member for Napier, was speaking at the Labour Party’s Central North Island conference at Levin, on a remit that sought to have the conscience vote abandoned. In a lively debate, one delegate said members should vote according to a consensus in the electorate, “where the conscience counts.” Another view that was applauded was that groups within society were using the conscience vote as a means of concentrating power on an issue. But Mr Braybrooke, an opponent of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, disagreed. He said that if the conscience vote were taken away he would resign. “We must not demand of our M.P.S automatic voting on political issues,” he said.

The remit was defeated on a show of hands. Speaking to another remit, the Caretakers and Cleaners’ Union delegate, Mr Pat Kelly, argued for greater control by New Zealanders over the economy. Strongly opposing it, an Associate Finance Minister, Mr de Cleene, said wealth could not be taxed unless it was there. The remit was passed after a clause asking for tight controls on the raising of loans abroad was deleted. Another remit seeking to manage the foreign exchange rate was lost A remit that suggested high interest rates could place at risk the chances of the Labour Party’s being re-elected, and sought reduced rates for mortgages and a gradual reduction by Government trading departments such as the Post Office, was carried. Also carried was a call for a review of GST and other tax changes that particularly affect low and middle income

earners and beneficiaries six months after GST starts. The conference agreed that the Governor-Gen-eral’s privileges regarding customs duty and sales tax be withdrawn. Carried, with some opposition, was a remit calling for prohibition of all forms of support .for sports events by tobacco companies. On housing, delegates favoured provision of mortgage finance to all low and middle income earners at a rate they can afford.