The Day In Parliament (Press, 31 May 1985)

On 31 May 1985, members of Parliament in Wellington observed a moment of silence in honour of the late Arthur Faulkner, a former member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, who passed away on 15 May. Faulkner served as the member for Roskill from 1957 to 1981 and held various ministerial positions in the Labour Government between 1972 and 1975, including Minister of Defence and Minister of Labour. During the session, V. S. Young, a member from the National Party, presented a petition signed by Dr J. P. McMenamin and 1,382 others, urging Parliament to legislate the recognition of unborn children as human persons throughout pregnancy. Additionally, Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, presented another petition from Valerie R. Insley and the Tamaki Estuary Protection Society, along with 1,808 others, requesting a ban on commercial and private net-setting in the Tamaki River and other waters to protect recreational activities and wildlife. Significant opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was evident as S. D. Upton, also from the National Party, submitted petitions from several groups, including Maud Ditchburn and 34 others, urging Parliament to reject the proposed legislation. Furthermore, R. J. Northey from the Labour Party presented a petition from Barbara Smith and the Auckland branch of the Nurses' Association, alongside 66 supporters, calling for the repeal of the State Services Conditions of Employment Amendment Act from 1983. R. F. H. Maxwell, another National Party member, also advocated for the repeal of the same Act with a petition from the Stratford branch of the Nurses' Association and 103 others. In addition to the petitions, the Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, tabled two important reports: the Securities Commission report for the year ended in March 1985, and the Prisons Parole Board report for the year ended in December 1984. The session included the presentation of ten notices of motion and responses to 19 questions from ministers. The Minister of Lands, Mr Wetere, introduced the Survey Bill, which was sent to the Land and Agriculture Select Committee. Meanwhile, Dr B. C. Gregory reported on the Maori Purposes Bill with amendments, which was scheduled for a second reading in the next sitting. In a notable move, Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, called for the introduction of the Imprest Supply Bill, which completed its first reading when the House reconvened at 7.30 p.m. The leading Labour figure, Mr Palmer, sought urgency for the bill, resulting in extended debate beyond the usual closing time of 10.30 p.m. The discussion persisted until 11 p.m. when the bill underwent its second and third readings, concluding with the House rising at 11.33 p.m.

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