Abortion issue card vote
By
OLIVER RIDDELL
in Wellington
The Labour Party came within 80 votes of dissolution when a card vote was needed to prevent the policy of abortion on demand being adopted by the. conference. Conservative individuals within the party, making up a substantial number of members, had indicated defeating this measure was crucial to their continued involvement. They also predicted dire consequences in voter support from older and more conservative people in their electorate. Previous policy, endorsed by only 462 votes to 377, has been for the provision of publicly funded facilities for abortion throughout New Zealand.
The remit that was finally defeated would have required "Labour members of Parliament to carry out the frequently expressed wishes of the Labour Party membership and legislate for the availability of abortion on demand.”
It was clear that passing the remit would have led many delegates to walk out of the conference and out of the party. Even with that threat, it was close.
Many of the unions declined to vote on such an individual issue and it came down to a head count among party delegates. Those members of Parliament who voted, and only about half did, sought to retain the existing policy. That enables M.P.s to treat abortion as a conscience issue.
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Press, 1 September 1986, Page 8
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214Abortion issue card vote Press, 1 September 1986, Page 8
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