The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1890.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 835, 18 July 1890, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1890.

A good deal has been heard regarding somp charges made by Mr Hutchison against the Government with reference to their transactions with the Bank .of New 'Zealand. These charges were openly made by Mr Hutchison in the course of a speech in the House. The charges may be briefly stated. In 1888 just before the second session of the present Parliament, a defect was discovered in the bill of the previous session authorising a loan of two millions. In consequence of this defect it was found the loan, could not be raised. In the emergency the colonial treasurer was authorised to float L 840,000 of deficiency bills. The. reason why these bills were floated was, as Mr Hutchison says to buy minted gold, and he asserts that this gold was not applied to fill the coffers of the Colony, but to fill the coffers of the Bank of New Zealand, which was passing through a severe crisis at the time. Mr Hutchison also says that when tho loan was floated it was floated at an indirect loss of LIOO.OOO besides a direct expense of over LI 10,000 and that thp grossproceedsamounting to L 1,955,000,, 955,000, went into the Bank of New Zealand. He also charges the Government with having interfered through the Agent-general in London, by endeavoring to bolster up the credit of the bank and deceive the public. Another charge was that in 1890 the Government kept over L 587,00 for which the Colony was paying interest — uninvested in the Bank of New Zea- I land, but for which the bank gave no profit or return. Mr Hutchison challenged the Government to have these charges investigated by committee or any other tribunal they might set up for the purpose or by any man they might" choose to name not connected with themselves. This challenge the Government, promptly accepted, and offered to have the charges inquired

into by a committee of nine, four to be chosen by Mr Hutchison. They also offered, as an alternative, to refer the inquiry to a judge of the Supremo Court to be chosen hy Mr Hutchison, to be assisted by a member of the House to be selected by the Government, and another selected by Mr Hutchison. While in his speech Mr Hutchison was generous enough to ask Ministers to set up their own tribunal to investigate his charges yet the setting up of this tribunal proved a very difficult matter. It was made a party question and Mr Hutchison and the members of the Opposition declined to submit the inquiry to any judge of the Supreme Court. Mr Hutchison submitted four names for the committee which Ministers at once accepted. He and his party, however, declined to accept the Government nominees, and the matter had to be discussed and decided by the House, the Government nominees being appointed along with those nominated by Mr Hutchison. The committee at once set of work to carry out the duties laid upon them and the public will await the result witli considerable magnanimity. We shall not anticipate that result but in the meantime the whole subject gives rise to a few thoughts we may be allowed to express. And first, why should the setting up of the committee have been made a party q'lestion 1 The charges clearly include those of misappropriation of public funds, public deception, etc., which all parties should be equally anxious to have thoroughly investigated. The proof to be led is as to matters of fact, and these will be shewn by the Treasury books and the books of the bank. There therefore seems no room for party action here unless indeed it was intended the facts' should be wrested so as to favor the one side or the other, and no one ran believe that such really was the intention. As to the charge that the Government endeavored through the Agent-general to bolster up the bank and deceive the public, Mr Hutchison explained that the proof lay in the file of telegrams to the Agent-general in the lattor part of 1888 and the beginning of 1889. He simply asked that these should be examined and the result reported. Where is the room for party action — unless on the supposition above referred to 1 Yet the personnel of the committee occasioned a long discussion, and an evident attempt was made to have it packed with strong party members. With what intent? But why was the offer of the services of a judge of the Supreme Court so emphatically declined ? If the object was an exhaustive, impartial, and independent investigation and report, one would think that a judge of the Supreme Court was, above all others, the one. to undertake it. A report by an able and impartial judge might not, however, be regarded as of much value from a party point of view. We notice that in the wrangling over the appointment of the committee, members freely expressed their want of confidence that those proposed by the opposing party would give an impartial decision. Probably as little confidence was entertained of the probity of those on the one side as of those on the oilier. Be it remembered the enquiry asked was as to matters of fact — as to whether certain moneys had been placed to the credit of the Colony or to the credit of the Bank of New Zealand, and as to whether the file of telegrams of a certain date conveyed certain instructions to the Agent-general. It would seem a very easy matter to ascertain the truth or the reverse of the charges. And yet members could not trust each other to say truthfully what the books and the telegrams contained. Wfll, members have now had a considerable number of years' experience of each other's conduct in Parliament. Was the expressed want of confidence the result of this experienced It would seem as if party strife had utterly obliterated all honour, honesty, and patriotism, and that the ruling and only operative passion is personal power and'pay. A Native member suggests, as a remedy for the demoralisation of the House, that the whole of the present members should be sent about their business and a new set of representatives elected. The suggestion is worthy the consideration of the constituencies. * A few days ago a number of the leading citizoiis of Dunedin wired to the city representatives iv Parliament pointing out that they viewed with alarm arid disgust the prolonged and useless wrangling of the present session. They hoped that ai expression of opinion from them w< uld help their representatives to put a stop to idle words in the Assembly, and encourage them to use their influence with other members to undertake -the real work of Parliament without morp waste of time. To this communication^ -Mr Fish and Dr Fitchett have replied, stating that the general hope is expressed in Wellington thnt the more intelligent body of the citizens of' Dunedin did not concur in pronouncing the discussion in Parliament on the financial and industrial outlook of the Colony fco be a" wtist'e of time. They also suggest that the influence of the leading citizens might be more powerfully employed for the public good by petitioning fora dissolution of Parliament at the.clo3e of the financial debate. Thi3 reply will no doubt be regarded by some as " smart," while others will only see it as spiteful impertinence towards their superiors, from whom they know they have not received, and are never likely to receive, political or other support. Whether or not it was prudent for the 15 citizens to communicate

s with their representatives in the form , they did we shall not express an opinion, but there can be no question that in their telegram they expressed the true state of feeling throughout the country regarding recent proceedings in Parliament. The silly carping that has for a fortnight been indulged in — and which by courtesy has b°en called a financial debate . — is looked on by the electors as waste of time, and that only, . All have been heartily sick of it, as well as heartily ashamed of the exhibition members have made of themselves. They consider it absolutely degrading to the Colony. Nor can the public see any occasion for, or good that would be likely to result from, a dissolution and a second session this year. And it is gravely suspected that were members paid by the year instead of by the session there would be leas said in the House as to the necessity for a second session. Most people are of the opinion that as the business is now conducted, the 1 fe,wer the sessions the better. In past years we have sometimes found fault with the harsh terms and arrogant demeanour assumed by Sir Harry Atkinson towards his opponents. JSir Harry, however, apparently better knew the character of the men with whom ho had to deal, and we are ready to admit that both the tone and the force he occasionally employed may have' been absolutely necessary under the circumstances. It is evident that without a leader of his force of will and power of command, but little good can be accomplished with the material now in Parliament. And, it is to be feared, the coming elections will not much mend matters. Only greatly - enlarged electoral districts and the operation of the Hare system of election will bring | about the necessary roform. j