The Day In Parliament (Press, 25 September 1985)

On 25 September 1985, Mr. W. F. Birch, a National Party member from Franklin, presented a petition aimed at introducing a private member's bill to transfer lands at Port Waikato, along with funds and investments associated with those lands, from the New Zealand Mission Trust Board to trustees elected by members of the sub-tribes Ngati Karewa and Ngati Tahinga. This bill is set to be introduced in the next parliamentary sitting. Several petitions opposing the Homosexual Law Reform Bill were also presented. Mr. N. P. H. Jones presented a petition signed by Geoffrey Braybrooke and 17,311 others, while Mr. G. B. Braybrooke delivered a petition from Mr. Norman Jones and 216,660 others. Additionally, Mr. G. E. Lee presented a petition from Mr. Keith Hay and Sir Peter Tait, which garnered 581,278 signatures opposing the reform. In other parliamentary activities, the annual report from the director-general of forests was tabled, and ministers addressed 17 questions. Mr. P. Neilson from the Labour Party reported that the Commerce and Marketing Select Committee had accepted the estimates for Tourist and Publicity, while Mr. Braybrooke noted that his committee also recommended acceptance of the Broadcasting estimates. Ms. Helen Clark from Mount Albert reported on the considerations of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee regarding the Patriotic and Canteen Funds Amendment Bill, which is set for its second reading next session. She also provided information on two petitions urging government action: one from Jenny Easton and Wendy Dove with 1,065 signatories calling for a public inquiry into the activities of the Tangimoana Defence Communications Unit and related U.S. military operations, and another from the Christchurch Latin America Group, supported by 538 individuals, requesting an end to U.S. violations of Nicaraguan sovereignty. Clark highlighted the committee's concern regarding foreign interference in Nicaragua and advocated for peaceful resolutions based on proposals from the Contadora group nations. The Nelson City Council (Trafalgar Park) Empowering Bill was returned from the Local Bills Select Committee without amendments, while the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) was also reported back from the justice and law reform committee without changes. The Land Tax (Annual) Bill successfully passed its second reading and subsequent stages without amendments. The parliamentary session included passing estimates for the Tourist and Publicity Department, leading to a debate on the Trade and Industry Department's estimates. Following an adjournment for dinner at 5:30 p.m., the House reconvened at 7:30 p.m., continued with the Trade and Industry Department estimates, and then moved on to debate the Post Office estimates, which were subsequently passed. The session focused on the Social Welfare Department estimates before the House rose at 11 p.m.

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