Comments on: The Pope of Parliament http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/08/the-pope-of-parliament/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:20:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Graeme Edgeler http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/08/the-pope-of-parliament/comment-page-1/#comment-316 Graeme Edgeler Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:52:42 +0000 http://werewolf.co.nz/?p=686#comment-316 <blockquote><i>The Speaker has the extraordinary power of being able to dock their pay. I mean, if I name a member – on the first occasion, they lose a day’s pay. If I name them a second time, they lose a week’s pay. I don’t know very many other people in New Zealand who have the power to dock anyone’s pay like that, but the Speaker has.</i></blockquote> I'm not sure this is true. I certainly always understood it to be the case; I know it is the practice. But there really doesn't seem to be a legal basis for it: 1. Standing Orders don't mandate it: a member suspended from the service of the House just loses the right to "enter the Chamber, vote, serve on a committee, or lodge questions or notices of motion." 2. Even if a Standing Order (or Speaker's ruling) could be found, payment of members is governed by the Civil List Act. All members of Parliament have a right under that act to be paid: and while that right is not subject to a number of exceptions, none of these relate to suspension of a member from Parliament. The Speaker may once have had the power to dock pay, but even so, Parliament abolished it with the Civil List Act.

The Speaker has the extraordinary power of being able to dock their pay. I mean, if I name a member – on the first occasion, they lose a day’s pay. If I name them a second time, they lose a week’s pay. I don’t know very many other people in New Zealand who have the power to dock anyone’s pay like that, but the Speaker has.

I’m not sure this is true. I certainly always understood it to be the case; I know it is the practice. But there really doesn’t seem to be a legal basis for it:

1. Standing Orders don’t mandate it: a member suspended from the service of the House just loses the right to “enter the Chamber, vote, serve on a committee, or lodge questions or notices of motion.”

2. Even if a Standing Order (or Speaker’s ruling) could be found, payment of members is governed by the Civil List Act. All members of Parliament have a right under that act to be paid: and while that right is not subject to a number of exceptions, none of these relate to suspension of a member from Parliament.

The Speaker may once have had the power to dock pay, but even so, Parliament abolished it with the Civil List Act.

]]> By: Peter Hodge http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/08/the-pope-of-parliament/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Peter Hodge Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:32:13 +0000 http://werewolf.co.nz/?p=686#comment-314 I have watched a lot of Lockwood Smith as speaker and am impressed with his efforts. I hope he does a good job as it takes a strong person to play his role. I have watched a lot of Lockwood Smith as speaker and am impressed with his efforts. I hope he does a good job as it takes a strong person to play his role.

]]> By: Connie Lawn http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/08/the-pope-of-parliament/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Connie Lawn Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:19:07 +0000 http://werewolf.co.nz/?p=686#comment-302 I have wonderful memories of Lockwood Smith on his visits to the U.S. He was a big hit, and charmed the Yanks. We hope he returns soon. Yours, Connie Lawn I have wonderful memories of Lockwood Smith on his visits to the U.S. He was a big hit, and charmed the Yanks. We hope he returns soon. Yours, Connie Lawn

]]> By: stuart munro http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/08/the-pope-of-parliament/comment-page-1/#comment-291 stuart munro Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:32:04 +0000 http://werewolf.co.nz/?p=686#comment-291 It may be less Smith's theocratic capacity than his experience as MC for the (rather dire)children's quiz program W3 that particularly fits him for the role of parliamentary speaker. His young contestants were more intelligent and better mannered to be sure, but there is every reason to believe his term as speaker will make every bit as great a contribution to New Zealand as the quiz did. It may be less Smith’s theocratic capacity than his experience as MC for the (rather dire)children’s quiz program W3 that particularly fits him for the role of parliamentary speaker. His young contestants were more intelligent and better mannered to be sure, but there is every reason to believe his term as speaker will make every bit as great a contribution to New Zealand as the quiz did.

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