From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

A bill for the establishment of a Neiafu Royal Town Council will be debated in the Whole House Committee of the Tongan Parliament when it reconvenes next week.

If the Bill becomes an Act, Neiafu will be the first to have a Town Council with possibly a Mayor and administration to look after the affairs of the town.

The Bill was introduced into the Legislature on June 30 (Minute no. 16) and passed its first reading 11-0. After its second reading a People's Representative Sione Taione moved for it to be tabled into the Whole House Committee for debate, but the debate was deferred until the House reconvenes on Monday July 25.

King's wish

The move to form town councils for Neiafu and also for Nuku'alofa became a controversial issue in the House, because prior to the introduction of the Bill for a Neiafu Town Council, a similar bill for the establishment of a Nuku'alofa Royal Town Council was rejected with a vote of 8-1 in the Legislature.

But even though the Nuku'alofa Town Council Bill had died after its first reading, the Deputy Prime Minister Saimu Vaipulu, wanted it to be introduced into committee for debate.

The Chairman of the whole House Committee, Siosifa Tu'utafaiva objected to the move and insisted that the House abide by its rules of proceedings. But because the Nuku'alofa bill had been voted on and was rejected, it should not be further debated.

But the Deputy Prime Minister still insisted that it should be tabled into committee for the debate even if had been rejected by the Legislature.

The Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano also pressed for the debate by reminding the House that the two bills were "the wishes of His Majesty the King".

So at that point the Speaker suggested to leave the matter until later and to proceed instead with the Neiafu bill.

The matter had become complicated because the House had already waived the rules of proceedings the same day and they thought they could do it again.

Bypassing procedure

The other mess-up in the procedure of the house was earlier the same morning, when the Speaker had allowed debate after a vote had been taken.

This happened after an Amendment to the Regulation of the Excise Duty Act 2010 was passed with a vote after two readings 12-0, 9-0.

But after it was passed, Sione Taione and the Deputy Prime Minister moved for it to be introduced into committee for debate.

Even though it was against the Rules of the House, the Speaker made a point that he would introduce it into the committee to show unity in the House and to show that they respected each others wishes.

The House has made things complicated for itself by not following its own rules of proceedings.