PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 41, 16 August 1895, Page 4

PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

TEC BANK OP NEW ZEALAND. The Hon. W. Montgomery moved for tbc appointment of the Counoil's portion of the Joint Committee to deal with the question of the Estates Company and tho Bank of New Zealand, snoh Committee to consist o! the Hon. Dr. Grace, and the Hon. MoBBrB. Bowen, Kelly Stevens, M'Lean, and the mover. He said that before any proposal conld be made for the separation of the Company from the Bank, the fullest ex amination into the affairs of those institutions shonld be made and the fullest evidence taken. The Hon. S. Shrimski said it was unfair to leave all the members of the Council, with the exception of the six composing the Committee, in ignorance of the affaire under investigation. He thought that the Counoil as a whole should disonss the matter in committee. The Hon. R. Pharazyn suggested that the Hon. J. D. Ormond should be added to the Committee. While ths Connoil was told last year that the Government had the fullest, information regarding the Estates Company and the Bank, it was now apparent that the Government then knew scarcely anything of the relations between the two institutions. Ministers deserved credit for making this a matter in which both branches of the Legislature could act. Nevertheless, theVproper course would have been to set np jt Royal Commission to investigate the question during the reoosß. He failed to recognise any moral obligation on the port of the colony to support the bank. The Hon. J. Kerr thought that the colony had incurred a moral and a business obligation by its guarantee last session. The Hon. E. C. J. Stevens eaid that though the Government was evidently taken by surprise last session, in a crisis of that kind only one course could have been adopted. He wished that the Government had given some lead in this matter — some sort of indication as to the necessity for, and the scope of, this investigation. As it was, the Committee had to prooeec upon a fishing expedition to discover the state of affairs Before any Btep was taken to separate the institutions further investigation Bhonld undoubtedly be made. The Kjtates Company had been and was a dummy company. In his opinion the two institutions were one and the same. The fullest investigation was necessary. The Hon. G. M'Lean said the circumstances were this year quite different from those of the previons legislation. Un- j doubtedly the Government wonld take the lead in this matter. He held that the dis oussion was premature, as the matter might be more suitably treated when the Committee brought up its report. In reply, the Hon. W. Montgomery said the Bank had a President and an Auditor in whom the Government had the greatest confidence, and he believed that the data furnished, by those gentlemen would be thoroughly satisfactory to the people of the colony. The first thing the Government would consider, in dealing with the report of the Committee, web the colony's interest The motion was then put and carried. FINAL STASIS. The Waimate Municipal Reserves Bill passed all stages. CHBMIS GETS A NEW TRIAL. The Hon. W. M'Cnllough moved that the Council go into Committee upon the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill. The motion was carried by 17 votes to 15 In Committee, the Hon. G. M'Lean moved that the clanse allowing Louis Chemis the right to apply to the Court of Appeal for a new trial, be amended by adding " and others " after the word Chemia. • The Hon. J. MacGregor . pointed out thai tho clause as printed in the Bill was entirely null, as it did not givo the Ccnrt of Appeal power to ie-try the case even after Chomis had the right to appeal for a new trial. The amendment was lost on the voices. The Mil was reported without amendments and was then read the third time, and passed without a division. The Council adjourned at 3.45 p m.