THE Hutchison Charges.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5899, 2 August 1890, Page 3

THE Hutchison Charges.

WARM DEBATE IN THE HOUSE,

THE CHARGES IN DETAIL,

THE OPPOSITIONISTS RETIRE FROM

THE COMMITTEE.

[feoji oue pakuambntaett bks>oeteb.]

[BT TELEQBATII.I

Wellington, Last night.

Opportunity wus taken by Mr Hutchison during the discussion on tho Bauk of N.Z. matter to-nighfc to formulate charges which he wished to make against certain members of tho Ministry. He intimated that had tho Committee allowed him to go on he would have proved that in tho interval between tho taking of office by the present Ministry and tho 31st March following , an extraordinary state of finance waa set up. An agreement between the Colonial Treasurer and the Bank was not enforced in many particulars, which would havo been to the advantage of tho colony iv particular. The Bank was under in obligation to lend certain sums of money every month at certain rates. Tho Bank was relieved from that obligation, and the Colonial Treasurer went about tho colony borrowing from charitable and finuucial institutions whioh went to help tho Bauk of New Zealand. In connection with that ho would have shown that tho Attorney General, who was also chairman of directors of the Bank, was under heavy obligations to tho institution. It was, he thought, a liability for which Sir Frederick Whitakcr was not personally responsible, in the first place, but the obligation ■•■•■iis there nevertheless, and favors were nevertheless extended to him inconsistent with any other supposition than that tho Bunk got considerable advantages from tho public fund. Then there was the case of Sir Harry Atkinson, tho Colonial lYoasurer. Ho (Mr Hutchison) could und-raland the persistency with which Mr Bell had that afternoon gouo into tho question of guarantees. What could it matter to tho Bank at what (-tiige of tho enquiry certain evideuco was called ? Tho learned gentleman, wherever ho got his instructions, was an advocate for tho threo Ministers who were inculpitod. He would have shown that Sir Harry Atkinson was under a very lieav}' obligation upon a guarantee to the Bauk for another person, and that that obligation had never been regarded by thn Bank as un asset. Did anyone mean to tell him that a Bunk which was not supposed to carry on its business as a matter of sentiment, and which had to p.'iy dividends to its .shareholders, would act in that way without receiving , consideration ? Then, as to the Hon. Mr Mitchelson, ho' would have proved that at the saino period that gentleman was under v very heavy obligation to tho Bank, though he was not now so indebted. The very fact that iho obligation had been discharged in a manner which was inconsihtent with payment in full must mean that tho Minister was pld'jod in a position of Fprvitudo to the Bank.

Unusual interest was taken in to-day's proceedings, and the fact that a. leading Wellington lawyer was ti) bo heard at the Bar of tho House in support of tho contoniion of tho Bank of New Zealand in connection with the Hutchison Charges Committee had tho effect of filling all tho galleries, and ensuring a very largo attendance of iuciuber.s.

Mr 11. 1). Eoll, who appeared attired in wig , and gown, made v clear and forciblu speech in support of the objections of the Lank to tho production of its books and document*. Ho explained ihat no question had been raised as to the records relating to the public account, but his clients hud boon ndvised that, having rosrsird to the pledgo of six-recy which its ofiifeore had taken, and tho <iuty which tho law imposed upon the Bauk not to divulge the confidence of its clients until compelled to do so, it ought not to produce tho records containing private accounts until compelled ho to do by the proper authority. After Mr Bell had retired Mr Withy, as chairman of tho Charges Comitteo, moved, '■ That Mr John Murray and Mr Richard Butler Kigtr do attend tho Committee and bring with them, or one of them, the booke aud documents which the Committee have already ordered to ba produced or may hereafter require." An addition to this was moved by Mr Macarthur, a promiuent Government supporter on the Committee, to the following effect:—"Provided that tho Bank i-hall on!}- be compelled to disclose books, accounts, and other papers aud information of a private nature on tho Comiuittoo reporting to the House that, as alleged in the speech of tho member for Waitotara, the public funds have been improperly used or raised by Ministers to tho advantage of the Bank of Now Zealand ; aud to tho detriment of the colony."

Id the course of the lengthy debate which ensued, Mr Bryce undoubtedly curried off the hunors of the evening. The members on the Government side of the ilonso urged that it was plainly the duty o£ Mr Hutchison in the first place to prow maladministration of the publio funds before going into tho matter of motive. Minister*, it was stated, were perfectly willing to submit their private accounts to tho investigation of the Committee, provided a primn I'acit eu.se were established beforo the debate closed.

Mr Hutchison made a capital speech in support of his position. The Government w«re gointf tb'tt night, he (-aid, to the force of their majority to bet aside a report of a committees set up by themselves, and ho deliberately charged tho Ministry with inakiug the matter at issue a party one. It was to be v party division, and the Government wore going- to tmpersedo the finding of its on n Committee. The Minister for Kducation charged Mr Hutchison with altering hie Hansard proof of the charges he had made against Milliliters on July lllh, and challenged him to divest himself of his Parliamentary privilege* and repeat the charges, in which j ease tbo Government would take proceedings against him. Mr Withy said tho party feeling shown in that night's discussion would prevent any just conclusion beiug come to by tho Committee on tho issues placed before them. I TJic amendment cast a tlur on himself as chairman, and raised a doubt as to his fitiiens for that office as well as four strong inon on. either Hide, and tho hon. gentleman intimated that ho would be obliged to take time to consider whether he could conscientiously continue to conduct tho business of the Committee. At 2.30 Mr. Macarthur's amendment was put aud carried .by 30 to 21, and the motion •i!> amended was then carried on tho voices. Tim folio wing is tho division list; — Ayks.

YD n Mncurthur Anderson Mackenzie (Mount . A i'f*ht*r Ida) bI-S Miiokenzio (Clutliu) C/.rroll M'GroKor Cowan Mitchelftou Fel-fTIiS M<j:lt I'llltOU M,1!llt „ .„ J.J..H J:ii;lmrdsoil, t>. i-■ Jl.-Miilin Jvu.^ell U.-irktitod isainuiO ]i;.-k.p Buiwiii-i. IJobbM Tdipuii. Jluinphrcys Thompson, K. j zur (l Thompson, R. Jjiiwry .Noes. Bullanto Kerr J'.i.rron I.urnarch iJimr-uu M'Kunzio, J. I-'ddwick Percuval J-'lsln:,. Jieuves (Inaugahiiii) (;i,|, h-tmiidcr.) i'iuili:lL fcJ'-iUii/ll I (.;<.!di« Taylor (~,vy Verrall Withy HutuhUon Pairs. For the Aguinst iimondment. tho amendment. AtkhiH'm Joveo >5..-yiiiour .Swiitli i Vulentiu" IVivhruv Wilson L m °.v Mills .Tonus Pyice TSiixt.;!! V/hyte Kelly ft*-,- Rich:ir(lrtoi,.-KiiiapoJ) Tiiiincr Muss ilarcl':<ti;t 'i'liiwhansra .Dout-oii Eraser ilciit'.-atli Steward O'Conor Puruta lk«Jgi;iusou Urovvii j Bryce Walker j iihoduu I-'itzhiiJ-bert Nowmu:!. Kcevts (St. Albuns) Ormond Ward Jkrtham Oi'.diiiau i JL'uujoak Gn.'iiiifCjid Bt-chiiiiiiii r>!ai:« Tli" i Jo.-: Mr. D.JLuio.o said I hue nn bhu power- of t<:.. O-j::.i!iittw.had Ixxii restricted, it ml v i. ■-■'•■.■ i.; ;:,:'.v, ; '..-.U 1 iv.i It. aud niter

the abuse which had been heaped upon the Committee and the censure passed by the House, he could no longer take part in the Committee's deliberations. He and Sir Harry Atkinson had agreed upon an order of reference which they had considered fair to both sides. He must protest against the new order of things which had been set up, and asked to bo relieved from further attendance on the Committee.

Messrs. Larnach, Seddon, and Fitchett also signified their intention of taking no further part in the proceedings of tho Committee after the action taken by tho Houss, and the comments of Ministers.

The House rose at a quarter to three a.m.