WYSIWYG NEWS - 19 September, 1999
Brian M. Harmer
Copyright - Brian Harmer
APEC is now behind us, and so is the game of looking at New
Zealand through the eyes of others. One of the little signs of
insecurity was the amount of "meta-news" ... the amount of time
our media spent not on reporting the APEC events, but on reporting
what the international (American) media was saying about the New
Zealand context for the conference. Well, it's all over. Jenny had
her hour in the sun, Bill suffered from an outrageous dose of
helioproctosis* and since then, the sun has continued to rise and
fall. Our rivers, lakes, beaches, mountains and landscapes
continue to be as beautiful as the were before this weird game
began.
I chose to stay late on Friday evening for a collegial drink with
colleagues and friends in the staff club. On my way home, I noted
that the evenings were getting lighter (only three more weeks to
daylight saving ... whoopee!) and there was a residual blue light
in the Eastern landscape. To the North East as I came over the top
of Salamanca Road by the Met Service, the Tararuas presented the
faintest blue grey image against the quickly darkening sky.
Nearer, the Orongorongos were already in black profile against the
bright lights of the Hutt and Eastbourne. The harbour was a deep
indigo, still and dark. It was a pleasant backdrop to the journey
home.
On with the news:
------
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are
reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd
whose current news listing can be found at
http://www.xtra.co.nz/news/
All material in parentheses, and concluded with the
initials "BH" is the personal opinion of Brian Harmer as
editor of this newsletter (or occasionally, AH for "Ants"
Harmer).
-----
Monday, 13 September
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POLICE INVESTIGATE WATSON LINKS WITH GREAT BARRIER
--------------------------------------------------
Auckland police have been investigating possible links between
Scott Watson and the mysterious disappearance of a woman on Great
Barrier Island. 48-year-old American Nancy Frey went missing from
her island home two years ago this month - her body was never
found. Police won't confirm they have spoken with the detectives
who investigated the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope but
admit they have checked out where the man convicted of their
killings was at the time. Inspector Dennis Woods says Watson was
in Whangarei when Nancy Frey went missing, but the yachtie is
likely to have stopped at the nearby island in the following days.
Inspector Woods says there will be no further attempts to link
Watson to Nancy Frey's disappearance.
TOTAL SUPPORT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON ENDOSCOPY SAGA
---------------------------------------------------
Canterbury Health says it supports all the recommendations and
findings of the Health and Disability Commissioner's report into
the endoscopy scare at Christchurch Hospital. More than 1300
patients were exposed to possible contamination after it was
discovered the hospital's endoscopes weren't being cleaned
properly. The Health and Disability Commissioner's report made 13
recommendations - Canterbury health has implemented most of those.
Chief Executive Richard Webb says they are most pleased the
commissioner found there was no cover-up by the hospital.
ULTRA-TIGHT SECURITY IN PLACE FOR LEADERS
-----------------------------------------
Security surrounding APEC leaders meeting at the museum in
Auckland this morning may be the most stringent at any event ever
staged in New Zealand. Sixteen hundred army personnel are guarding
the perimeter of the Auckland Domain. Police also have a large
security presence, and say marksmen have taken a number of
positions around the Domain. Senior Sergeant Dave Pearson says he
is certain that someone would have a hard job to break through all
the layers of security. He says the motorway system should be
clear of leaders' motorcades soon after 9am, but the heat will
come back on the motorways at around five o'clock this afternoon.
TOKOROA TREES FOR THE CHOP
--------------------------
Trees lining State Highway One through Tokoroa may be for the
chop. Local property developer, Walter Pelikan, has suggested the
council get rid of a line of large trees obscuring the town from
passing motorists. He says businesses in the town suffer from the
lack of main road shop frontage. Deputy Mayor, Bev Sturgeon, says
the idea has been well received by the council, which will now
consider it. Walter Pelikan also wants an alternative entrance to
the town developed.
(As an ex-resident of Tokoroa, I have mixed feelings about the
wisdom of this. The road is SH1 ... with an enormous amount of
heavy traffic associated with the regional timber trade as well as
trucks transporting commodities along the countries main backbone.
The trees beautify the road and do a valuable service deadening
the road noise for the residents. In addition, despite a certain
fondness for the town as I once knew it, the houses built by NZ
Forest Products to house many of its 3,500 workers in the 50s and
60s are ugly little things. - BH)
APEC GOOD NEWS FOR RUAPEHU SKI FIELDS
-------------------------------------
The North Island ski fields are laughing all the way to the bank -
and it is all thanks to APEC. Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton says
Aucklanders have flooded to the ski fields over the weekend rather
than battle traffic chaos. He says the ski fields desperately
needed a boost following a snow drought in previous years.
MOTORISTS TAKE IT OUT ON APEC POLICE
------------------------------------
Road rage was alive and well in Auckland over the weekend with
police facing a tirade of abuse from motorists caught in APEC
traffic jams. Hundreds of people were trapped in queues, some for
as long as half an hour, while police waited for motorcades to
pass through the central city. Senior Sergeant Keith Campbell says
most of those on point duty are staff from the South Island who
were stunned by drivers' reactions. He says some staff have told
him it was the worst abuse they have encountered in up to 14 years
of service in the police force. Senior Sergeant Campbell is
warning people to avoid the central city again today.
Tuesday, 14 September
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TREE LIFE SPAN SHORTENED
------------------------
The tree on One-Tree Hill has now been ring-barked at its base
after an attack with a chain saw earlier today - according to
officials they removed covers put in place after vandalism in
1994. Police say four members of a Northland family, including two
teenagers, have been arrested. Christine Fletcher, who has been at
One Tree Hill, says the vandals could have died, because had the
tree come down, it would have spun around in its enclosure
crushing those below. An Auckland City Council spokesman says the
tree's eight to 10 year remaining life span has certainly been
shortened.
CHINESE PRESIDENT WELCOMED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE
----------------------------------------------
Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin has been officially welcomed to
Government House in Wellington this morning. The President took in
his stride a fearsome Maori challenge and haka by 900 Wellington
school students. The Premier had a brief morning tea with Governor
General Sir Michael Hardie-Boys ahead of talks with Prime Minister
Jenny Shipley and a state luncheon.
RETAILERS SUFFER DURING APEC
----------------------------
Auckland city retailers say they are hurting after three days of
people conscientiously avoiding the central city during APEC.
Auckland regional manager of the Retail Merchants Association,
Russell Sinclair, says indications are that people stayed away
from the city with traffic counts down as much as 80 per cent.
He says that downturn hit independent retailers hard as for many
of them the single outlet is their lifeblood. Mr Sinclair says
they are hoping things will get back to normal again today.
Meanwhile most city roads have now re-opened - the only closures
still in place involve the block around the Stamford Plaza.
K2000 NOT WELCOME IN TAURANGA
-----------------------------
A decision by Tauranga airport not to allow airline K-2000 to
operate there won't dampen the company's enthusiasm. Tauranga
airport board chairman and local mayor Noel Pope, grounded the
company saying it wouldn't make economic sense to upgrade the
airport for just 16 flights. Airline Director Jeff Mathews says
Tauranga has missed a great opportunity to open up the heartland
of New Zealand to international travellers. However he says it
will be business as usual out of Hamilton and possibly Auckland.
TV3 TO APPEAL BSA DECISION
--------------------------
TV3 says it will appeal a decision and fine from the Broadcasting
Standards Authority, regarding a story which ran on the
documentary programme 20/20. The story, called "Sex, Lies and
Videotape", concerning the Anglican Church, screened in June last
year. TV3 head Mark Jennings says the fine imposed by the BSA was
excessive, and inconsistent with previous rulings made by the
authority. He says they have serious concerns about the
application and interpretation of the broadcasting code in this
instance. Mr Jennings says they will be taking the decision to the
High Court in an effort to have it overturned.
QUEENSTOWN BRACED FOR CLINTON VISIT.
-----------------------------------
Queenstown is braced for its first visit from a US president, with
Bill Clinton spending the day in and around the town. The
President and daughter Chelsea will stay at Millbrook, where Bill
Clinton is to play a round of golf. Chelsea may go skiing.
Hundreds of police and army personnel are in the resort in what
has been its largest ever security operation. It is a more formal
agenda for Chinese president Jiang Zemin, who has travelled to
Wellington following APEC. There is an official welcome for
President Jiang at Government House, followed by morning tea with
the Governor General. President Jiang then has an informal meeting
with New Zealand Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley.
Wednesday, 15 September
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PM'S OFFICE DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN PROTEST DISPERSAL
---------------------------------------------------
The Prime Minister's office says Jenny Shipley did not give the
order to have a group of Free Tibet protestors dispersed in
Christchurch last night. The group was moved following a noisy
demonstration outside where a state dinner for Chinese President
Jiang Zemin was being held. IRN's reporter at the scene says
President Jiang turned up 90 minutes late as soon as the protest
was dispersed. And while Mrs Shipley didn't take a direct role, a
spokesman says her staff were in discussion with police and the
president's staff, in an effort to sort out the impasse. He says
it is up to police to clarify where the order came from.
(Someone should get their wrist slapped in my opinion ... this was
a disgraceful example of the triumph of pragmatism over principle.
The protesters were breaking no law, were on the far side of the
street, and were exercising their legitimate rights. - BH)
MORE WINERIES SETTING UP IN HAWKES BAY
--------------------------------------
The Hawkes Bay wine trail is growing with seven new wineries to
open in time for this year's release. Next month Kim Crawford
Wines is to offer tasting facilities at Te Awanga and Silena on
Maraekakaho Road is to open two restaurants. At the end of the
year, tasting facilities will be available at Wishard Winery at
Eskdale, Askerne Winery outside Havelock North and Beach House
Wines near Haumoana. Lucknow Wines and Matariki Wines outside
Havelock North plan to open to the public by March. Craggy Range
plans to have a restaurant overlooking the Tukituki River by the
year 2002. In 1990 there were just 12 wineries in the Bay - next
year there will be close to 40.
(There are some nice wines in the area ... though I have a
personal preference for Marlborough or even some of the better
Martinborough labels. I am prepared to make exceptions when the
price is right. - BH)
ACT LEADER OUTRAGED BY WANGANUI SEX BIAS CASE
---------------------------------------------
Act leader Richard Prebble wants the Health Minister to fire the
people who banned a Wanganui woman from entering a work site.
The woman was told by the foreman at a building site at a local
psychiatric hospital she was contracted to work on, that she
couldn't go on to the site because it hadn't had a Maori blessing.
Women are considered tapu until a building is blessed. The woman
has laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. Richard
Prebble says the incident is outrageous and he is demanding the
government take immediate action. He says government inaction
would imply New Zealand has adopted a state religion.
QUEEN MISSES OUT ON MILLENNIUM NOTE
-----------------------------------
New Zealand's newest banknote will be the first piece of currency
in 33 years to not feature an image of the Queen. The Queen's
image has been dumped from the Millennium $10 bill - which was
unveiled by the Reserve Bank today. She is featured on every other
New Zealand coin and banknote - as either a portrait or a
watermark - since 1967 when decimal currency was introduced.
The Reserve Bank has moved away from its earlier stated intention
to feature a significant New Zealander on the limited edition
note. Instead the millennium notes feature images of a skier, two
parachutists, four kayakers, two children and a surfie. The
reverse side shows a Maori waka.
PARLIAMENT TO BREAK RECESS FOR SPECIAL SESSION
----------------------------------------------
Earlier this week Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said she wasn't
willing to send New Zealanders into a situation where their lives
might be in danger without allowing all MPs a chance to have their
say. That was to have happened in a special session next week.
However the United Nations process is moving swiftly - and it is
expected to formally endorse an Australian-led peacekeeping force
to East Timor within the next few hours.
(In a rare display of unanimity, all parties endorsed the sending
of our peacekeeping forces. There was a bit of handwringing over
the prior parsimony as to the state of their equipment, though no
blame was accepted by anyone. - BH)
MAYOR OF AUCKLAND EXPECTS REPORT ON CHAINSAW ATTACK
---------------------------------------------------
The Mayor of Auckland is expecting a report this morning on the
chainsaw attack on the pine at the top of One Tree Hill.
Four members of a Northland family are due to appear in court
today charged in connection with the incident yesterday.
Council officials say the city must now decide how to replace the
dying tree, which has only a limited life-span. Auckland Mayor
Christine Fletcher suggests new security measures might be
considered, since it is clear the fence around the tree trunk
hasn't worked.
TREASURER SAYS LABOUR'S WEST COAST APPROACH IRRESPONSIBLE
---------------------------------------------------------
Treasurer Bill English says Labour has adopted an irresponsible
approach to solving its political problems on the West Coast.
Many Coasters are angry that Labour plans to shut down Timberlands
- and end all logging of native timber. Labour's finance spokesman
Michael Cullen has promised that $70 million worth of exotic
forest from Timberlands will be given to a West Coast community
trust. But Bill English says that is a dangerous precedent - as
other regions might equally try to argue they deserve a gift of
taxpayer owned assets. Mr English says it is wrong to give away
state assets to solve a political problem.
(Pardon? When did Mr English acquire a reverence for state assets?
- BH)
HIGHWAY ROBBERY ALIVE AND WELL
------------------------------
Modern-day highway robbery appears to be alive and well in the
South Island. A Leopards Coachline bus was stopped around 9.50
last night by two men wielding a gun, in Hornby near Christchurch.
The men, sporting white hooded sweatshirts and masks ransacked the
coach eventually making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The bus driver was unhurt. Police are looking for two Caucasian
males, slim and approximately 6 feet tall.
(The rumours of a gibbet being erected in the square are
unfounded. - BH)
Friday, 17 September
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OUR ARMY'S PREPARED TO SHOOT
----------------------------
An advance party of SAS officers will be sent to Darwin where the
frigate Te Kaha and the Endeavour already are. All New Zealand
defence personnel will be attached to an Australian battalion and
will leave from Darwin before going on to East Timor. Chief of
Defence, Air Marshall Carey Adamson says it will be dangerous, and
every precaution possible is being taken. The Government will
brief various political party leaders today about the exact nature
of the New Zealand force to go to East Timor, and ACT wants to
know how well armed they will be. Leader Richard Prebble says he
agrees with the view of the former commander of the UN
peacekeeping force in Bosnia, General Michael Rose, that any
presence in Timor needs to be well armed. Sir Michael's argument
is that substantial firepower is needed despite the UN's role
officially being that of a peacekeeper. Mr Prebble says New
Zealand troops shouldn't have anything less, going into a
situation which he says could still be a "bloodbath."
TWELVE YEARS FOR MAN WHO MURDERED ACC WORKER
--------------------------------------------
The man who murdered an ACC worker in her West Auckland office
will serve a minimum of 12 years in prison. 35-year-old Johnny
Manu, who stabbed Janet Pike to death after being turned down for
a payment he believed ACC owed him, was back before the High Court
in Auckland today. He is already serving a mandatory sentence of
life imprisonment after pleading guilty to murder. Today's hearing
was to decide if the crime was exceptional enough for the non-
parole period to be extended beyond the minimum 10 years. Judge
Judith Potter says Manu's actions were exceptional, saying the
stabbing was a brutal, lethal attack.
(Mr Manu is a paranoid schizophrenic who many health workers argue
should have been in forensic care ... I am sure he needs to be in
custody, but it ought to be one of the institutions which still
exist for the extreme cases of mental ill-health. - BH)
ANDERTON THE BULLY?
-------------------
Former Alliance MP Alamein Kopu is expressing sadness that it has
taken so long for people to realise what she calls "the truth"
about Alliance leader Jim Anderton. In a new book Pam Corkery -
who is quitting politics and the Alliance after one term in
parliament - describes Mr Anderton as a bully. Ms Corkery says Jim
Anderton plays mind games - mocking some people and ignoring
others. Alamein Kopu made similar comments two years ago when she
quit the Alliance - describing it as an unacceptably hostile
environment. But Mrs Kopu says people ignored and mocked her then
- sending her a box full of hate mail.
(Whether or not Mr Anderton does play mind games, I regard that as
nothing beside the moral bankruptcy of a woman who went into
parliament with a mandate to represent the proportion of voters
who voted for the Alliance and then jumped ship. It is electoral
theft on a grand scale. She is not alone, of course. It is time
that ALL list MPs who leave their party, also leave the house. -
BH)
STEAM RISING FROM MT RUAPEHU?
-----------------------------
Reports of steam rising from Mt Ruapehu are being put down to
clear, fine weather. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences
Volcano Surveillance Co-ordinator, Brad Scott, says any steam is
as a result of the crater lake temperature remaining around 55
centigrade, against an air temperature of minus 4. However, he
says there have been subtle changes in volcanic tremor levels over
the past few weeks which warrant closer investigation. Ruapehu
last erupted in 1996.
QUINN "PHILOSOPHICAL" ABOUT TV RUGBY RIGHTS LOSS
------------------------------------------------
Keith Quinn appears resigned to the fact his career as a rugby
commentator on TVNZ is over. The veteran commentator looks set to
be sidelined after Sky and TV3 signed up a controversial deal to
give TV3 free-to-air rugby rights. Quinn has been pondering
yesterday's developments, and describes his feelings as
philosophical. He says the rugby has gone from TVNZ, and in
everything in life there has got to be an end to it. TVNZ is not
happy with yesterday's announcement from Sky, citing a lack of
prior warning and possible breaches of its Sky TV share sale
agreement, and says it is taking legal advice.
AIR NEW ZEALAND QUIET ON ALL BLACKS PLANE
-----------------------------------------
Mystery and suspense surrounds the unveiling of an Air New Zealand
plane later today. Rumours began a month ago about whether the All
Blacks would travel to the Rugby World Cup in their own specially
painted Boeing 747. Initial suggestions included a plane painted
totally black, but concerns were raised about the expense and
safety aspects. Invitations to what Air New Zealand describes as
an "unveiling" event today say: "Air New Zealand have added some
props to their jets, so just make sure you have a front row view
of the conversion." And that is all the airline is saying until
this afternoon.
(I think the aircraft as unveiled, shows more imagination than I
had credited Air New Zealand with. There is a huge ?mural? on the
side of the aircraft, picturing the All Black front row ... great
stuff. - BH)
PAM CORKERY ATTACKS FORMER BOSS
-------------------------------
The former Alliance MP, denies her attack on former boss, Jim
Anderton, is designed to harm his chances in the upcoming
election. In her book "Pam's Political Confessions", Ms Corkery
calls Jim Anderton a bully, citing mind games like making fun of
other people, and ignoring them. But she says the timing of her
book is to capture election interest, not to hurt Mr Anderton or
the Alliance. Pam Corkery says it would be vainglorious to think
she could damage a party's chances. However, she says Jim Anderton
is not the only bully in parliament, and other politicians are
discussed in the book.
ANSETT LOCK OUT REMAINING STAFF
-------------------------------
The Ansett pilot lock out is into its second day and the airline
is vowing to continue the action indefinitely. 125 pilots have
been locked out for refusing to sign the company's new contract
which would see 35 of them made redundant. They would also be
forced to work longer hours. Ansett Chief Executive Kevin Doddrell
says today's situation is the same as yesterday's - the airline
will only be operating at 35 per cent of its normal capacity. He
says some pilots who ordinarily hold management positions, are now
flying. Kevin Doddrell says a handful of pilots who had refused to
sign the contract have recently done so, and he hopes most will
come to their senses soon.
THE FINANCIAL PAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 16 September 1999 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
CURRENCIES
~~~~~~~~~~
The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm.
The rates given are for telegraphic transfer and are
as given in the Wellington Evening Post today.
To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.5271
AUD 0.8107
GBP 0.3268
JPY 55.17
CAD 0.7778
EURO 0.5081
FRF 3.3324
DEM 0.9937
HKD 4.1034
SGD 0.8923
ZAR 3.2433
CHF 0.8159
INTEREST RATES (%)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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90 Day: 5.04
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----------
see you next week
--
Brian M. Harmer
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/
Charles Eggen
<brian....@vuw.ac.nz> wrote:
>APEC is now behind us, and so is the game of looking at New
>Zealand through the eyes of others. One of the little signs of
>insecurity was the amount of "meta-news" ... the amount of time
>our media spent not on reporting the APEC events, but on reporting
>what the international (American) media was saying about the New
>Zealand context for the conference. Well, it's all over. Jenny had
>her hour in the sun, Bill suffered from an outrageous dose of
>helioproctosis* and since then, the sun has continued to rise and
>fall. Our rivers, lakes, beaches, mountains and landscapes
>continue to be as beautiful as the were before this weird game
>began.
>
I would love to read a detailed report, from a New Zealand prosective,
regarding this circus, especially as it relates to the U.S. contingent
(or should I say, retinue); and we call this government by the people?
As usual, the report we got over here was less than meaningful. The
U.S. media tells us everything it can, within a one minute sound-bite.
After all, we don't listen anyway - unless it involves sex or mayhem
or sports (I'm repeating myself, aren't I).
Now you can rest up for the next events - 2YK, followed by America's
Cup, and then there is the Sydney Olympics spillover. Maybe things
will settle down again by 2001. Then again, maybe not if the captains
of industry start a promotion of the real Millenium. I think I'll wait
for a few more years before coming over for another visit.
Chuck
Stephen Judd
Brian M. Harmer <brian....@vuw.ac.nz> wrote in message
news:VvPjN8qk29AIt3=X2f=6uwq...@4ax.com...
> ----- WYSIWYG NEWS -------------------------------
<snip>
> (Whether or not Mr Anderton does play mind games, I regard that as
> nothing beside the moral bankruptcy of a woman who went into
> parliament with a mandate to represent the proportion of voters
> who voted for the Alliance and then jumped ship. It is electoral
> theft on a grand scale. She is not alone, of course. It is time
> that ALL list MPs who leave their party, also leave the house. -
> BH)
Really?
I think that when you vote for a party, among other things, you vote for
their list. The onus is on the party to select list members with as much
care as it can, and on voters to inspect party lists as much as party
policy. In that sense Alliance voters did vote for Alamein Kopu, and no
doubt they will inspect the Alliance list with a deal more care next
election.
If a party for whatever reason selects a great many list members who
defect, that tells you a lot about the party as well the defectors. And if
you voted for a party with poor internal discipline and a shonky list, then
you the voter wear the consequences when the party starts to unravel.
Also, if you let the defectors stay in Parliament, that softens the extreme
party focus of MMP (meaning that MMP is necessarily built around and reliant
on party structures) which is no bad thing.
Not to deny that defecting can be a treacherous act, but I don't think the
issues are as clearcut as you state them.
Stephen
Richard Clemance
>If a party for whatever reason selects a great many list members who
>defect, that tells you a lot about the party as well the defectors. And if
>you voted for a party with poor internal discipline and a shonky list, then
>you the voter wear the consequences when the party starts to unravel.
After the election the voters cannot change the party they voted for
so why should the people the voters elected be able to change parties?
Stephen Judd
Richard Clemance <r.cle...@netaccess.co.nz> wrote in message
news:rubivn...@corp.supernews.com...
Because they are, as you say, the people the voters elected.
Stpehen
Brian M. Harmer
<stephe...@esolutions.co.nz> wrote:
>
>Richard Clemance <r.cle...@netaccess.co.nz> wrote in message
>news:rubivn...@corp.supernews.com...
>> "Stephen Judd" <stephe...@esolutions.co.nz> wrote:
>> >If a party for whatever reason selects a great many list members who
>> >defect, that tells you a lot about the party as well the defectors.
I tells you nothing, because there is no party (except United) who
have not had a member jump ship. And even United exists only because
its founding members were themselves, deserters.
>> >And if you voted for a party with poor internal discipline and a shonky list,
>> >then you the voter wear the consequences when the party starts to unravel.
The fact that it has been so, is no reason why it should continue to
be so. When that select committee considered this subject after Kopu's
disgraceful behaviour, I believe they voted in accordance with their
short term interests to stay in office, rather than on the principle.
>> After the election the voters cannot change the party they voted for
>> so why should the people the voters elected be able to change parties?
>Because they are, as you say, the people the voters elected.
My original point was to distinguish between individuals elected to
parliament as electorate members, and list members whose role is to
give force to the wish of the public as to what proportion of each
party is in the house. I regard the list members as being not there in
their own right. If they have am individual crisis of identity they
should bugger off and let the next one down the list do what the
voters asked for.
Lyndon Watson
> Richard Clemance <r.cle...@netaccess.co.nz> wrote in message
>>> If a party for whatever reason selects a great many list members who
>>> if you voted for a party with poor internal discipline and a shonky list,
>>> then you the voter wear the consequences when the party starts to
>>> unravel.
That's an argument which could be equally well used to justify the
acceptance of *any* misbehaviour by elected representatives, up to and
including the burning of Parliament House and assumption of dictatorial
powers. If you voted them in, you just have to "wear the consequences".
>> After the election the voters cannot change the party they voted for
>> so why should the people the voters elected be able to change parties?
In the case of the elected members, it is the person who is elected,
not the party, and the party allegiance is merely one of the personal
and other characteristics which might have induced people to vote for
him or her (indeed some people probably voted for them *in spite of*
their party allegiance - as must have been the case for the people who
voted for Mike Moore and for the National party on their list vote). It
is arguable that an MP who stays true to his or her promises and quits a
party which changes (such as Jim Anderton) is a truer representative of
his or electors than one who stays with the party.
List MPs, on the other hand, are not personally elected and are there,
under MMP theory, to give their party a vote in parliament proportional
to its share of the popular vote. The answer to the scumbag problem
might be to simply give the designated party leader the irrevocable
proxy vote of all the members so that they cannot undo the
proportionality.
> Because they are, as you say, the people the voters elected.
The notable thing is that, except for four of the Maori MPs, the
defectors are not the people that the voters elected, but list MPs.
That appears to me to be evidence that the people are better judges of a
potential MP's character than are the party hierarchies. Perhaps one day
we might have a system whereby all MPs have to be elected by the popular
vote. ...
LW
Dave McL
It
> is arguable that an MP who stays true to his or her promises and quits a
> party which changes (such as Jim Anderton) is a truer representative of
> his or electors than one who stays with the party.
I find it hilarious that Jim Anderton, who quit Labour to form his own
party because he disagreed with Labour's policies, is now among the most
vocal supporters of changing the law to require MPs who quit their
parties to be forced to resign from Parliament.
What's that h-word again?
KIWINEWS
Dave McL wrote in message <37e6...@news.iprolink.co.nz>...
Also rather amusing how basically the Alliance is party made up of... other
parties, many of whose members are deserters of other parties... and people
are gonna vote for these guys !