Just desserts for Govt M.P.

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 8

Just desserts for Govt M.P.

PA ( Wellington | Opposition members I of I Parliament became steamed up when a Government | member last evening resorted to taking his pudding with i him when called to the | voting lobby by constantly ringing division bells in Parliament. During debate on the State Sector Bill, the Opposition ( regularly ( disputed the voice decisions I on clauses and called for formal voting in the lobbies, to which members have to go to and cast their votes. ! After a division call, Mr Roger McClay (Nat, Waikaremoana) took ; issue! With |Dr Bill Sutton (Lab., 1 Hawke’s Bay) for bringing his pudding with him when he went to yote. He asked whether it was in (order “for Hawke’s Bay to be in the voting (lobby in this chamber with a pud-

din $ plate, i obviously frori Bellamy’s, eating his| dessert.”; | [I j Government meiribers, accusing Mr Mc-Clay of “nitpicking,” shouted “Oh,' come on,” while a National member j lamented “Are there no! standards ■ I i (:! ([' ( But the j Opposition ( failed to pull out (a( plum -whenl ithe Chair-1 man of Committees, Mr( John Terris, (had to call; for] (silence! before tell-; iing members he had; “no jurisdiction what-! ever” on the matter, j 1 When asked later what the pudding was that! was tooj good to leaWe, Dr Sutton replied, “Honestly I think this; is just too) trivial jto comment on;” A! spokesman for Bel- ! lamy’s said I last eveni Ing’s menu for membets offered a choice of . chocolate steamedi pudding with vanilla sauce, ! or I a fruit sundae. I