新西兰英语 145 Parliament “in urgency”

　　Parliament is “in urgency” when the government wants to pass a law in a hurry. In this case, the government is in a hurry to set up the new Auckland super-city council before the local body elections in November next year. The government wants to set up a Transition Agency which is an organisation¹ to decide how eight councils will become one council.
Parliament began to sit in urgency on Wednesday. Usually MPs go home on Thursday afternoon and return to Wellington on Tuesday morning. However, because of this urgent matter, MPs had to stay until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday. They will continue until midnight tonight and all day on Saturday.
The Labour Party is making it difficult for the government to pass this law. Some Labour MPs want the law amended² which means changed a little, and they have introduced hundreds of amendments⁴. The MPs vote on each amendment³ and this takes a lot of time. Of course, none of the amendments will pass because the government with the ACT party has a majority in Parliament. Rodney Hide of the ACT party is getting very angry at the Labour Party and says they are just wasting time. The Labour Party says they are trying to show how bad this law is because people have not had a chance to discuss it.
The Maori Party is also angry about the new super-city idea because the government does not want to have three Maori representatives on the Auckland council. (See April 7th 2009. The Maori Party and the Greens are voting with the Labour Party.

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

3 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

4 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。