Grey Power speaks against anti-smacking bill

Grey Power has added its weight to the debate over plans to prevent parents from using reasonable force as a defence when disciplining their children.

The lobby group for superannuitants believes a referendum would show that a large majority of people were against the bill brought by Green MP Sue Bradford.

Hamish Perry, chairman of the group's law and order division, said Grey Power was opposed to unlimited violence but had no problem with smacking.

He said Grey Power believed the anti-smacking bill was not the way to deal with increased assaults on children.

Mr Perry said when he was at school, military training was used as a form of discipline alongside corporal punishment and taught him respect.

He said he thought a return to compulsory military training would help to stem rising violence.

Parliamentary debate on the bill is scheduled to resume on March 28.

- NEWSTALK ZB