THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 51, 28 August 1895, Page 4

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

AN INTEBIM EEPOET. On the Honse meeting at 7.50 p.m. yesterday, the Premier, in the absenoe of Mr. Buohanan, Chairman of the Committee, brought up an interim report, to the effeot that "the Committee, finding it impossible to bring up a full report this evening, think it right to inform the Council and the House that they have oome to conclusions whioh, if adopted by Parliament, will, in their - opinion, place the Bank of New Zealand in a seoure position." The concluding sentence of the report was greeted with laughter, and when it had oeased, the Premier said it had been found impossible to get the report printed that day, henoe the deoision. It would be brought down, with the papers attached, at 2.30 p.m. to-day. There was an absurd rumour going about that it was intended to olear the galleries during the discussion of the question. There was no foundation for that rumour. When members were placed ! in possession of the report he felt sure they would insist on the Government proceeding with a measnre to give effeot to it. The hut statement was met with orieß of " Oh," and Mr. Mitohelson asked would the evidenoe be printed with the report, and would the debate be taken immediately on the presentation^ the report, or on another dayj> The Premier said the Committee was a secret one, and so far its eecreoy had been respected. The report would be aooompanied by such papers as in the opinion of the Committee should aooompany it, and there would be with it more than sufficient evidenoe to justify the findings. In reply to Mr. B. Thompson, the Premier said he Baw no objeotion to the minutes of the proceedings accompanying the roport. Mr. Duthie presumed that the afternoon would be given members to peruse the report before the discussion was taken. The Premier considered this would be a fair oourse. The debate should be taken on the measure to give effeot to the report. Mr. Bell said that whatever other members might do he was not competent to determine a matter of this importance npon a moment's notice, or six hours' notice, even on the report of gentlemen in whom he might otherwise have oonfidenoe. It would not be fulfilling the trnst reposed in him by his constituents. Mr. G. W. Eussell considered that the members of the Government Party would not accept anything in the way of surprise legislation. Mr. T. Mackenzie did not oonsider six hours sufficient for consideration, and did not intend to accept anything recommended by the Committee unless satisfied by the produotion of evidence. (" Hear, hear," from the Government benches.) The Premier said, with reference to Mr. - Bell, the Government did not desire to foice him or any other member to do anything not in aocord with their oonsoienaes. There were some members who conld master a question in six minutes, some in six hours, some in six weeks, and some never. It would be for Mr. Bell to decide when he had mastered it. (Mr. T. Mackenzie— "Yon didn't master it hut year," and laughter ) He regretted Mr. BnsselTs feferenoe to the Ministerial Party. (Hear, hear.) This wae not a Party but a national question, and he wished it to be treated so. He did not to prooeed with the debate immediately on hiving the report on the table. The Committee was granted extension oi time till to-day to prepare ite report.