Petition Response Pleases (Press, 25 March 1985)
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Summary: Petition Response Pleases (Press, 25 March 1985)
On 25 March 1985, reports emerged from Wellington indicating significant momentum behind two petitions calling for a referendum on the Government's anti-nuclear policies and opposition to the proposed Homosexual Law Reform Bill. Dr Jim Sprott, an Auckland chemist leading the anti-nuclear petition, noted an overwhelming response, with petition sheets returning in such quantities that he and his team struggled to keep up with the counting process. The initial distribution of 1,000 sheets, sufficient for collecting around 20,000 signatures, occurred on 9 and 10 March 1985, and the demand for more sheets quickly escalated, with requests for ten at a time. Many individuals reached out to inquire about locations to sign the petition. On the other hand, the campaign against the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was spearheaded by Labour MP Geoff Braybrooke from Napier. He, along with three other parliamentary members, had also launched a national petition against the legislation. Braybrooke expressed astonishment at the level of support, stating that approximately 5,000 petition sheets were dispatched a week prior and that daily distributions were ongoing. Demand for these petitions was reported from all over New Zealand, from North Cape in the north to Bluff in the south. However, Ms Mary Kelly from the Wellington Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament expressed skepticism regarding the success of Dr Sprott's anti-nuclear petition, suggesting that its support was primarily drawn from National Party backers, who recently faced significant defeats in the elections. This added an element of political contention to the petitions, underscoring the divided public opinion on these issues at the time. The unfolding events highlighted the contentious atmosphere surrounding nuclear policy and social reform in New Zealand during the mid-1980s.
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