The Week In The House Sessional Watershed, And... (Press, 21 June 1975)

In the week leading up to 21 June 1975, significant developments transpired within the New Zealand Parliament, particularly concerning the motion for Government business to take precedence on Wednesdays. This contentious motion faced intense debate, with Opposition members expressing concerns that it was aimed at stifling discussions around Mr V. S. Young’s Crimes Amendment Bill. The fear was that allowing the bill to proceed could result in "conscience" voting, ultimately revealing the views of members to an electorate that is increasingly sensitive to the issues at stake. Mr Young's bill, which addresses the legal ramifications surrounding homosexual acts, particularly Dr G. A. Wall’s amendment that seeks to impose up to two years of imprisonment for informing younger individuals that such acts are normal, has sparked considerable backlash from educators and other groups. This outcry has made many members hesitant to openly declare their positions, especially if the bill were to go to a free vote, where the anticipated outcome would be close. Reports suggest that if the vote were held freely, the bill would likely fail by a narrow margin, indicative of a divided caucus and a tense political atmosphere. Additionally, the Prime Minister, Mr Rowling, has committed to holding a second-reading debate on this bill, but the timing of this debate remains uncertain, as it is under his discretion. Also noteworthy is that the decision to prioritise Government business has resulted in six other private measures, including some from Government members, being sidelined along with numerous pending motions—totaling around 50 on the Order Paper. This week also witnessed continued clashes between the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Muldoon, and the Speaker of the House, Mr Whitehead. Notably, the Speaker rejected Mr Muldoon’s calls to adjourn the House to discuss matters pertaining to an Auckland hospital. Despite these conflicts, a somewhat calmer atmosphere prevailed for parts of the week. However, the general climate of reasoned debate seen in other parliamentary systems was noticeably absent. Debate on three significant finance bills took up much of the parliamentary agenda, including the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill and its Amendment. Historically, these bills have been debated in conjunction, but this week, they were handled separately. The inefficiency of the "oral" questions process continued to be problematic, with 26 questions left unanswered by the time the House adjourned, resulting in 31 questions postponed for written responses. Notably, many of the questions raised sparked brief discussions, adding to the sense of time wastage. Nevertheless, some legislative progress was made, including the completion of the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill and the second-reading debate on the Primary Products Marketing Regulations Validation and Confirmation Bill, which had been pending since April 22. Looking ahead to the following week, it is anticipated that more time will be allocated to addressing the growing legislative backlog.

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