Carter John: Smoke-free Environments (Exemptions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Carter John: Smoke-free Environments (Exemptions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:627;Page:22076] 
JOHN CARTER (National—Northland) 
: 
 I appreciate that Mr Assistant Speaker. Does that mean that I get two lots of 5? Is that what you mean? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: No I do not mean that— 
JOHN CARTER 
: I get two calls on this? I know you will want me to make such a long contribution— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: You can try! 
JOHN CARTER 
: That is very kind Mr Assistant Speaker. I rise to speak in support of this bill and I do so for a number of reasons. It has been interesting as I have been going around campaigning across the country in recent times and going into various clubs— 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: He’s gone. 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well that is not what that member told the editor of the local paper actually. It has been interesting going around campaigning and going into different clubs. Of course as National’s spokesperson on veterans’ affairs I have been going to RSA clubs and specifically asking their members questions around the legislation. I have found some things that I am sure the House will be interested to know. One of the first things is that I was in a hotel where there was an outside restaurant. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: That’s unusual. 
JOHN CARTER 
: For me to be in a hotel? That is true! There was a restaurant that was out in the open—an outside open-air restaurant place—where a number of the patrons went to have their lunch. They had been doing so apparently for some long time. The problem now is that that practice still continues but that of course the smokers who used to be inside while the restaurant patrons were outside having their lunch are now going outside to have their cigarettes. They are now sitting outside with the people eating their lunch and the people eating their lunch outside in the nice clean air are suddenly now finding of course that they are getting smoked on. It is causing some problems. What may have to happen is that the restaurant may have to move inside so that the smokers can stay outside. 
The other thing that caused me some amusement was that I was talking to a mate of mine in a club in a town that will remain nameless. He said that the fascinating thing was that now when he goes down to the club there are normally three or four people inside and about 60 outside on the veranda—predominantly because they are smokers. He said the strange thing was that those on the outside were having a great time having their beers their cigarettes their fags—whatever—and that the three guys left inside ended up having a fight. It was probably because they were so bored they had to do something I imagine. 
So all sorts of strange things are happening. But the thing that struck me most of all in terms of the impact of this legislation is that when one goes into an RSA club and sees the old returned servicemen sitting there having their beers talking and reminiscing as they do one realises that in lots of ways that club is their home. It is where they are comfortable; it is what they have made it. It is their club—their place. Certainly they have visitors lunch rooms and different things but I ask myself what right we in this Parliament have to interfere in how those men and women want to run their clubs. Those people set up those RSA clubs for themselves; they did not set them up for people to come in and out of. They did not set them up to provide for the general public; they set them up for themselves. They are guys—men and women—who have given of their time and who have seen their colleagues and friends die and here we are now imposing rules on them against their wishes. If ever there was a case that we should be saying: “Hands off folks! It is time to allow those people to make up their minds.” it is this case. 
I could give other instances but I want us particularly to remind ourselves about the veterans. I want us to remind ourselves about the members of the RSA. Many of them go to an RSA club because it is the one place where they feel happy and where they feel at home. But we have interfered with that enjoyment. Those people gave of themselves for us; surely we should allow them some of their own time to spend in their clubs in their own ways and should not interfere in the things they think are important for them.