NZ MPs repeal unused World War One law

File photo / NZPA

Questions were raised about the best use of Parliament's time today as MPs debated whether to repeal a WWI law that has not been used in 30 years.

The Military Manoeuvres Act was enacted in 1915 to deal with mobilisation for World War I, and enabled the Governor-General to declare any land available for a period specified for military manoeuvres.

National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi launched a member's bill in 2010 to get rid of the outdated law, and tonight the Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill passed its final reading, 111 votes to eight.

As far as the New Zealand Defence Force has been able to ascertain, the law has not been used in more than 30 years.

Mr Bakshi said he hoped his bill would draw attention to a broader issue of older legislation needlessly still in the statute books.

"The law in New Zealand should remain current and uncluttered. This repeal bill will address a broader issue of older legislation clogging up the books," he said.

Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway did not appear to see the legislation in the same light, calling it an "absolute waste of a members' day".

"I want only to note that the Labour Party supports this bill because it does no harm. It certainly will not do the nation any good. It will not fix the economy. It will not do anything useful, whatsoever."

Other parties also got in on the act, joking about the necessity of such a bill.

Green Party MP Kennedy Graham joked that he had considered introducing his own bill to bring the legislation back, but "the burden of this debate has now persuaded me against that line of approach".

New Zealand First MP Richard Prosser used the opportunity to make fun of comments previously made about Finland by Cabinet Minister Gerry Brownlee, informing the House that his party was unable to support the bill due to the impending military threat posed by Finland.

"Thanks - or perhaps it should be no thanks - to recent comments made by the Leader of the House, it is possible that Finland may now harbour hostile intentions towards this country," Mr Prosser said.