Hon STEVE MAHAREY (NZ Labour—Palmerston North) : I move, That the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill be now read a second time. The bill amends the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Act. It deals with a piece of land that the council wishes to sell to the local girls high school. It needs this legislation because it is not empowered to sell the land, and that is why we are here. Everybody is in agreement on the bill. It has been through the Local Government and Environment Committee, where there was unanimity between the members. It has therefore returned to the House with the committee’s full support. I commend it to the House.

JOHN CARTER (NZ National—Northland) : I will speak very quickly, and make just one political point. Here we have a Government that has two standards—one for the West Coast, where it will not allow reserve land to be used for other purposes, and another here, where it is to allow reserve land to be used for education purposes. There are two standards. Nevertheless, we support the reason for this bill going ahead, and will support the bill.

• Bill read a second time.

Hon STEVE MAHAREY (NZ Labour—Palmerston North) : I move, That the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill be now read a third time. I think the bill now has complete unanimity, despite the small political point that has been made. Therefore, I commend this bill to the House.

• Bill read a third time.