THE BANKING ENQUIRY.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 58, 31 July 1896, Page 5

THE BANKING ENQUIRY.

♦ THE COMMITTEE REBUFFS THE GOVERNMENT. MR. BOOTH DECLINES to PRODUCE IMPORTANT PAPERS.

The Banking Committee of Enquiry set up by the House of Representatives resumed its sittings at 10.30 this morning. A MOTION FOE ADJOURNMENT LOST. The Chairman (Mr, Graham) read a >-eply

received from^Mr. Murray from Sydney, stating that he was writing to the Committee regarding his summons as a witness. Mr. Guinness moved that the Committee, in view of the no-confidence debate now before the House, adjourn till Monday. Mr. G. Hutchison opposed this. It was, he said, the height of ridiculousness to say that the Government was in any danger from the want of confidence motion now before the House. It looked to him like an attempt to render the enquiry abortive. The Premier regretted that Mr. Hutchison should make this an occasion for attacking the Government. He thought the Committee should adjourn. On division it was decided by 5 to 4 not 'to adjourn, those voting against the motion being Messrs. Tanner, Maslin, Hutchison, Montgomery, and Graham. MB. BOOTH'S FURTHER EVIDENCE. Mr. Booth, Director of the Bank of New Zealand, was then called, and further examined. Ho produced some papers asked for by the Committee. He declined to produce the reports of officers of the Bank on the position of tho Bank and the " Globo Assets," as they would divulge the accounts of customers of the Bank. He declined to produce at present books, documents, papers, 350., relating to the above and other matters referred to in the order of reference, and also declined, at present, to produce particulars of the recoveries in respect of the £200,000 " contingent liability/ 1 being part of the estimated losses of the Bunk referred to in the report of the Committee of 1595, page 2. . The Premier thought now the Committee bad got in these documents it should adjourn. He protested against what he termed the extraordinary treatment accorded to the Government in the matter, and moved tliat the Committee adjourn till Monday at 10.30. This was carried by 6 to 4, Mr. Montgomery reversing his vote. The Committee then adjourned. I