Sowry Roger: Electoral (Vacancies) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
Sowry Roger: Electoral (Vacancies) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:610;Page:7783] 
Hon ROGER SOWRY (Deputy Leader—NZ National) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. You may not have seen the Minister in the chair seeking the call. The Minister indicated several times during my speech that he would take the call. He was moving and I just wonder whether you missed that. Ministers usually get the call even if one of their own colleagues seeks it. The Minister certainly moved. It was slow but he did move. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: If he did move I am sorry but I did not see him. 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister of Agriculture) 
: Members opposite raised the question of why we are doing what we are doing. I would say that from my point of view we are here to save “Private Harry”. Harry Duynhoven is an outstanding parliamentarian who as we all know is very proud of his Dutch heritage and his New Zealand citizenship. His parliamentary majority is bigger than the total personal votes of almost every member opposite. As such he is the object of much spiteful envy and petty jealousy from members opposite—[ 
Interruption 
] 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I refer members to Speaker’s ruling 51/5—a running commentary of interjection is not permitted. If members want to make a speech they can seek the call next time. 
Ron Mark 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Could you give us a little guidance. This is a House of debate and it is quite complimentary if someone’s debate is robust enough to invite reaction. That is part and parcel of debate in the House. The Minister is engaging in a robust debate and making very controversial statements. I ask you to consider that such controversial statements invite as a matter of course robust interjection. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I have already ruled on that and the ruling stands. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Perhaps it would be helpful if you gave the Minister some advice about the constraints that come on any speaker in the Committee stage of a bill. Making reference to Mr Duynhoven’s significant majority which no one disagrees with is totally irrelevant to this debate unless members are simply saying that because he was so well elected last time we should not bother to have an election in New Plymouth again while he is around. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Point of orders should be short. The Minister was coming to the point. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. You have just advised the Committee that interjections should be fewer and that is fine. That is a ruling we would expect from the Chair but I ask that it be consistently applied. There have been occasions certainly when I have been on my feet when members have continually interjected but have not been called to order. I do not mind interjections myself. They do not worry me. In fact I am very happy about it. But if we are to have that ruling let us have some consistency. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I refer the member to Speaker’s ruling 64/3(1) and say that we take note of what happens in the Chamber and each case is judged on its merits. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I am addressing the issue raised by members opposite of why we are here debating this matter. I would say this. In a small-minded malicious way members opposite have seized upon the absurd technicality of a long-obsolete remnant of ancient legislation to try to force Harry out. That is what they are doing. In so doing in their ridiculous pomposity they are revealing their contempt and complete disregard for the very clear preference of the good people of New Plymouth. They have chosen Harry by a bigger margin than any other sitting member of Parliament. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The Minister cannot use a person’s first name. That is the third time he has done it. Could he please refer to the member by his full name. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The people of New Plymouth have chosen the Hon Harry Duynhoven as their representative in Parliament by a greater margin than any other sitting member of Parliament. The National Party— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. With respect it is not befitting the Government to send down to the Chamber a Minister who knows nothing about Part 2 of this legislation. He has not referred to it in any specific sense but has tried to commence a general argument. That may be appropriate at the introduction the report back or the debate on the title but it is not appropriate now. Which part of Part 2 or any part of Part 2 is the Minister focusing his mind on? This is the widest debate of this subject that I have heard today. To send down a tired old Minister and have him slash around the Chamber and beat his gums is not good enough. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I would like the Minister to come to the point. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I am specifically addressing clauses 4 5 and 6 of Part 2 to explain why we are here debating this issue. We are involved in this prolonged debate because the National Party ACT and New Zealand First—the self-satisfied self-important Tories—who could not defeat the democratic will of the good people of New Plymouth by fair means are trying now to do it by foul means. That is what this debate is all about. It is time we closed it down and got on with the real business of Parliament. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. You have asked the Minister to focus on the legislation. Just reciting the clauses that he thinks he is referring to is not good enough. He has immediately gone back to expressing his bile and venom about the next Government of this country knowing full well that he does not understand the subject he is addressing right now. If he cannot address the subject then stop his speech and we will get back to the bill. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I might add that that applies to all members. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I have made the point I wanted to make. I suggest we close down this time-wasting debate and get back to the real business of Parliament—something we were sent here by the electors to get on with.