THE BANKING INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 166, 16 July 1896, Page 5

THE BANKING INQUIRY.

lft. Watson, President of the B.N.Z. Examined.

ilefuses To Give Information re Individual - Accounts, ~.,

the Committee Considering

thei% Position.

(BT BttEOBAWr.— PARLIAMENTARY RB

PORTER),

Wellington, Wednesday.

This day* proceedings in connection wibh .. B ttD king Inquiry have definitely settled ■'■neveral points that were in doubt. They h«TB shown ib to be irrevocably fixed that ♦he Council and the House Commitboes cannortcb in unisoD. They have demons-\-iitd.that Mr George Hutchison is ab : totalyariaace with the Government on ; iß pßit»nt points of the inquiry, aud they tort proved pretty conclusively thab the aoorta of Committee cannob be expected Wore the end of September. The Com'njittee appointed by the House has made 0 p its mind ia advance thab its reporb ie a matter of no consequence, all that it J M i l9 s. being, to elicib certain information and leave the public to draw their own conclusion. The Council Committee, oaths other hand, looks upon its reporb as the principal thing, and hence its refusal to allow proceedings to .be reported. At a meeting of the Committee of the House M .d»y matters wenb smoothly, until Mr Gao. Hutchison, in the words of the Premier, '* sprung a surprise," by moving to call for tho attendance of a number of fitnesses, with boots and documents. As loon it Mr Hutchison reached the point of calling for evidence regarding the transaction of the Ward Company, the Premier interposed an amendmenb to delay the matter,-.and warmly, accused the member fur Patau of desiring to import political inimoa into bhe proceedings, wibh a view to injuring Mr. Ward and the GovernEsnfc. After some interchanges, Mr Hotcifoon doctored that if bhe course outlined -by the Premier were followed thd Committee would never reach matters affecting the actions of Ministers in relation to banking legislation. "Begin with , 'trying the Government," gruffly inter jecbed the Minister for Lands, to which Patea imilingiy retorted, "1 have no objection." Aconfused and somewhat excited' discus'lien followed, the Chairman's weakness being apparent when hia powers wore opposed t» the sharpened wits of Air HntchieoD and Mr Montgomery. For some : time the atmosphere was electric, three or four members of the Committee showing themselves determined upon resisting liiiisterial methods of procedure. ' Ultimately a compromise waa effected by the , dwontientß supporting the motion of the Premier with the additions suggested by Mr Hutchison, and by tho latter giving notice of his motion regarding Mr Ward's affairs.: The expenditure of two hours over the mere arrangement of preliminaries ia ao indication of the length of time thab is likely to, be consumed irf taking evidence. miTUDE OF THE COUNCIL. Is the Legislative Council this afternoon lis Hon. Mr Jenkinson moved the eus:pension 'of standing orders so as to allow tie proceedings of the Banking Committee lobe open to the press, except when the Committee were deliberating. He said .last the proceedings should be given aa mach publicity as possible, and that conld tnly be done by allowing the press to be pra?enb. Tho proceedings should be privileged so as to protecs newspapers reporting what occurred there.

After debate the motion was lost by 25 108.