Finlayson ChristopherHon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National): I want to focus my comments on new section 55D(c) inserted by clause 5 as to the procedures which are taken when Mr Peters decides that he doesn't like Darroch Ball and wants to throw him out but first I want to make two brief points. The first is that the Minister was very adamant that his interpretation of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and that of Mr Parker were superior to the 21 or so—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Twenty-three.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: —23—constitutional experts and so I wonder what his response would be to this proposition: in Taylor v Attorney-General Mr Taylor applied to the court successfully for a declaration of non-compliance with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Were this legislation to pass I wonder what his approach would be to this idea that I had whilst sitting in the Chamber: that we all apply to the High Court for a declaration as to compliance with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. And what would happen if there was a declaration of non-compliance? That's a matter that he and I could perhaps discuss at some stage because I think that that could be a very interesting way in which we test New Zealand Bill of Rights Act propositions in due course.I do feel sorry for the Labour Party. I'm on record as saying on a number of occasions that they are my adversaries; they're not my enemies. I have great respect for the history and tradition of the Labour Party because the Labour Party being a real political party as opposed to one which adopts the führer principle for the way in which it conducts itself is a party deserving of respect. The Labour Party well know that over the years people like Gerald O'Brien or Mel Courtney have walked out of the Labour Party because they were not selected or because of various problems and at the next election they were thrown out. The same applies to Brian MacDonell and John Kirk. They walked away from the Labour Party in the last few years of the Muldoon administration. I think they supported the National Government on a number of matters relating to the Think Big projects but come the 1984 election they were swept away.Jim Anderton walked away from the Labour Party because of his objections to Roger Douglas' economic policies and he was back in 1990 as the MP for Sydenham. So the Labour Party's always tolerated dissent. John A Lee's another one I suppose. So they're in a difficult position but I do have to say that I have some sympathy for them.Hon Member: I don't.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Well when you're dealing with the devil these are the sorts of problems one faces.Let's come to new section 55D(c) and that deals with the confirmation by at least two-thirds of the parliamentary members of a party that they agree that written notice should be given to the parliamentary leader. In a real political party like the National Party or the Labour Party before such a Draconian step would be taken to remove a member of Parliament not only from one's caucus but also from the Parliament one would expect that there would be a genuine and hard-fought debate because members would agree that the step that was being taken was a very serious one warranting very careful consideration. But in a party like New Zealand First which revolves around this sort of latter-day Sun King where people either agree with him or are exterminated—because as I say it's a party that operates according to the führer principle—there is no opportunity for people to stand up because if one is a Brendan Horan or an Andrew Williams and dares to raise one's head above the parapet then they will be gone. That's the sad reality of the matter.I can't imagine such a political star as Tracey Martin taking a different view from anything her leader says because she knows full well that her future in this place is dependent on his whim. It's not a real political party; it is a party which is based on one person. It has always been based on one person which is why there's never been a change of leadership there's never been robust debate within the party and anyone who stands up against him as I say has been taken out and shot. So while I have no doubt at all—CHAIRPERSON (Poto Williams): Order! Order! That's a little extreme I have to say.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Well in a political sense it's not too extreme at all; it's a very accurate assessment of just the kind of principle that we're dealing with.