LATE PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 228, 1 October 1897, Page 5

LATE PARLIAMENTARY.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

Wku.in'ctuw this day. AUDIT OK COMPANY ACCOUNTS. Mi: Millar's Companies .Accounts .Audit Hill provides that all banks, joint stock companies anil societies registered in the colony or incorporated in Now Zealand, .shall furnish annual balance-sheets in a prescribed form and vcriiiod l>y a statutory declaration to the Government Auditor, accompanied with boolcs, vouchers and documents required, I tit t private accounts | need not lie supplied except by order of the Supreme (.'ourt Judge. Refusals to produce or answer (juoslioiis imolve aj penalty not exceed intone hundrcil pounds, or imprisonment not exceeding throe niontliH. Olliccrs and agents may be ex-: ,'unined on oath. The Auditor is also to ascertain the true value of assets. Shareholders are to be supplied with copies of; balance-sheets eertiiied by the Government Auditor, and any Government Auditor issuing a fradulent certificate or report will be liable to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds or three years' imprisonment. The expenses of audit and valuation will be borne by Lhe companies. MUN LCIPA L VRA NC H LSE. Although the local Government Bill is not to be proceeded with this session, that portion of it which relates to the enlargement of the franchise will be pressed. 1 understand that the householder qualification will be the franchise in eases of both Municipal and County Council elections, a very large extension. MR J. G. WARD. Mr J. 0. Ward goes South to-day, and will address a mooting of the Workers' Political Union. Mo will return when the Committee report. « CO U NCIL A P PO Us TM F N TS. The rumour that the Government in-, tends to make further appointments to the Legislative Council during this sitting of Parliament is oflicially denied. Such a course would be unconditional, and would only be resorted to in ease of absolute necessity to strengthen the Liberal Government in carrying popular measures. THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE. The Privilege Committee met at eleven o'clock this morning. Mr Joyce proposed Mr Guinness as Chairman. Mr Montgomery was also proposed. The result was four votes each side, and a deadlock. Ultimately the Premier was elected Chairman by four to three. A sub-committee was appointed to search for precedents. Discussion lasted two hours.