The Day In Parliament (Press, 27 September 1985)

On 27 September 1985, the Acting Leader of the House, Mr Hunt, announced the agenda for the parliamentary week commencing 8 October, following the recess. The House would meet at 2 p.m. that day for discussions on various pieces of legislation on the Order Paper and the introduction of new bills. A general debate and the consideration of private members' bills were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Estimates discussions were planned for Tuesday and Thursday, focusing on the budgets for Works and Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Rural Bank, and Housing. Mr Hunt confirmed that urgency would be invoked to pass an Imprest Supply Bill during the evening session. Mr T. C. Mallard, representing the Labour Party, presented a petition from the New Zealand University Students’ Association and 6074 others, advocating for the continuation of a $75 weekly subsidy for employers of students and trainees during the 1985-86 summer vacation. The petition also called for increased support for student job search initiatives to promote equitable access to tertiary education. Another petition, submitted by Mrs Pamela McClelland and 110 others, urged Parliament to reject the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. This was presented by Mr Bill Dillon of the Labour Party. Reports from the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council were tabled, and ministers responded to 21 questions during the session. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, presented a petition from Mr Bute Hewes and 158 others requesting an amendment to the National Roads Act, 1953, which would provide exemptions for Waiheke Island and similar islands regarding the allocation of motor revenue to mainland State highways. Mr Hunt moved to grant urgency for the presentation of select committee reports, allowing for the consideration of the Appropriation Bill (No. 2), the introduction and passage of the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2), the final stages of the Copyright Amendment Bill, and review of the Higher Salaries and Allowances Bill. Following a division, urgency was granted with a vote of 45-31. Reports from the Primary Producers Select Committee, the Social Services Select Committee, and the Labour Select Committee endorsed the acceptance of respective estimates related to Agriculture and Fisheries, Housing, and the Labour Department. An amendment proposed by Mr C. B. Townshend to send a bill back to committee for further review was defeated. Debate continued on the estimates and adjourned for dinner at 5.30 p.m., resuming at 7.30 p.m., where the social welfare estimates were passed. The estimates for women's affairs were also approved without further debate before the House turned to the health estimates, which were adjourned at 10.55 p.m. The session concluded with the government moving to introduce the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2), but debate on its introduction was interrupted as the House rose at midnight.

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