The day in Parliament

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 8

The day in Parliament

PA Wellington Parliament would resume on Tuesday, April 28, the Leader of the House, Mr Palmer, told the House when it sat at 2 p.m. yesterday. He said it would then proceed with business on the Order Paper and the introduction of bills, with a general debate and time for private members’ bills on April 29. Ms Fran Wilde (Laib., Wellington Central) presented the petition of the Combined Teachers’ Association, Wellington region, asking for the rejection of some State payfixing changes. Mr D. A. Angus (Nat., Wallace) presented the petitions of Joanne Margaret Johnston and 16 others, and Levena These Gillies and 20 others, both asking thaT priority be given the Aparima flood-pro-tection scheme.

Ministers answered 13 questions. The Speaker, Dr Wall, declined an application by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Gair, for a snap debate on the latest Bank of New Zealand lending rate increase.

Dr Wall also declined an application by Mr W. F. Birch (Nat., Franklin) for a snap debate on an incident in the Chatham Islands on April 4.

A member of the Communications and Road Safety Select Committee, Mr G. B. Braybrooke, reported that the committee had considered the petition of the Invercargill Senior Citizens’ Association, Southland Old People's Welfare Council, and 7000 others asking that the Radio Southland 4YZ programme, “Old Folks at Home,” be retained.

The committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration with a rider recommending that the programme be broadcast on Tuesday evenings on the Invercargill local community station 4ZA. The chairman of the Primary Production Select Com-

mittee reported that it had considered the petition of the South Otago community rallies by the Balclutha Borough Council, Bruce County Council and Clutha County Council calling for protection of employment in the rural community by reduction of interest rates and the retention of existing tax concessions. It also considered the petition of Brian Scott and 476 others and Peter Robinson and 875 others asking that the viability of agriculture be guaranteed until interest, exchange and inflation rates are reduced, labour market monopolies and import licensing and tariff protection are removed.

The committee recommended the petitions be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. The chairman of the Internal Affairs and Local Government Select Committee, Mr T. J. Young (Lab., Eastern Hutt), reported that the committee had considered the petition of Wilfrid John Davy Allan and Karl Henry John Lynch Phibbs calling for a survey to investigate the feasibility of constructing a canal to join the Kaipara and Waitemata harbours.

The committee recommended the petition be referred to the Government for consideration.

The Maori Affairs Amendment Bill received its third reading. Members then began debating the third reading of the Immigration Bill. The bill was read a third time. Members then began the committal stages of the Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill. Debate was interrupted when the House adjourned for dinner at 5.40 p.m.

Debate continued on the bill’s committee stages when the House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

An amendment moved by the Labour member for Sydenham, Mr J. P. Anderton, to make lotto illegal was defeated, 43-25. The bill passed its committee stages. The Customs Amendment Bill was passed through its committee stages and was given a third reading. The House then rose at 10.22 p.m.