Mr Kirk Opposes Homosexuality Bill (Press, 6 August 1974)
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Summary: Mr Kirk Opposes Homosexuality Bill (Press, 6 August 1974)
On 6 August 1974, the New Zealand Press Association reported on Prime Minister Mr. Kirk's stance regarding the Crimes Amendment Bill, which proposes to legalise homosexual activity between consenting adult males in private. The bill was introduced by Mr. V. S. Young, a National party member, and had received its first reading in Parliament while Mr. Kirk was absent. Following the reading, it was referred to a Select Committee for further examination. Mr. Kirk expressed strong opposition to the bill, stating he might have voted against it had he been present during the first reading. He reiterated his position from a month prior, indicating his opposition to any legislation that normalises homosexuality but mentioned he would review the details of the bill before casting a vote. When questioned, he confirmed his firm stance against Mr. Young's proposal and hinted that significant amendments would be necessary for him to reconsider his position. However, he did not specify what changes would be required, stating that it was the Select Committee's responsibility to address those concerns. Mr. Kirk also remarked that a Special Committee would likely be established soon, to consist of five government members and four opposition members. He could not predict whether the bill would return from the committee before Parliament's scheduled recess in September or October. He also left open the possibility of allowing a second reading debate on the bill later in the year but was uncertain about the timeline, as it depended on how much time the committee would need to gather evidence and consider submissions from various groups and individuals. Additionally, Mr. Kirk called for balanced media coverage of the committee hearings, acknowledging the difficulty of succinctly covering such proceedings. He emphasised the importance of providing thorough and fair coverage to ensure the public is well-informed about the implications of the bill under discussion.
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