Plenty Of Work For Parliament (Press, 17 September 1974)

On 17 September 1974, the New Zealand Parliament is set to resume a significant debate regarding the Local Government Bill, anticipated to be one of the most substantial reforms in the country's constitutional framework since the abolition of provincial governance in 1876. The bill has been a topic of contention, and the government aims to have it passed before the Parliament's anticipated adjournment at the end of next month. The Local Bills Committee, which had conducted a thorough examination of the bill, dedicated 69 hours to reviewing it, received 238 submissions, and conducted an extensive tour to gather insights on local governance across the nation. The bill will be positioned second on the Order Paper for tomorrow's session, following the third reading of the Customs Orders Confirmation Bill, a process typically seen as a mere formality. Prime Minister Mr Rowling indicated that the timeframe for Parliament's closure is uncertain, with Labour Weekend being a possible date. However, he stated that the progress made in the following two weeks would heavily influence this decision. The Parliament is also considering two private members' bills: the Crimes Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr V. S. Young, which addresses the decriminalisation of homosexual acts, and the Hospitals Amendment Bill, led by Dr G. A. Wall. While discussions on the Crimes Amendment Bill are currently underway in a Select Committee, its timetable remains uncertain. The Hospitals Amendment Bill is set for a second reading, with Mr Rowling asserting that members would vote based on their personal convictions. In addition to these bills, a range of significant legislative measures are still pending, including revisions related to Commerce, Maori Affairs, and Children and Young Persons legislation. A Special Committee on Women’s Rights is also reviewing vast materials collected from various sittings across the country, with a reporting deadline of 30 November, although this timeline now appears questionable. The Parliament's agenda also includes six days dedicated to examining Estimates related to key areas such as Education, Internal Affairs, Justice, State Advances, Transport, Health, and Railways. On a different note, in sports, J. Moreno from Spain claimed victory in the men's singles of the Antonio Bonfiglio under-21 tennis tournament held in Milan, defeating South Africa's B. Mitton in straight sets. In the men's doubles final, the South African pair of Mitton and J. Schneider triumphed over K. Sinz and T. Smid from Czechoslovakia in a closely contested match.

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