MINISTERS AND THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 8267, 12 July 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

MINISTERS AND THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

THR HUTCHISON INDICTMENT. [From Onr. Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 11. A3 I anticipated, this afternoon's sitting was wholly taken up with the discussion on the motion made by the Government to set up a committee to inquire into Mr Hutchison's charges ugainst Ministers of having sacrificed the interests of the colony to those of the Bank of New Zealand in dealing with the loanß. Mr Mitcheison, in moving for the appointment of a committee consisting of Sir J. Hall, Dr Fitchett, the Hon. Messrs Ballance, Bryce, and Larnach, Messrs Macarthur, Fulton, Ormond, and Seddon to inquire and report upon the charges made against Ministers laßt week by Mr Hutchison, said that if the chargra were true the Government were no longer worthy of occupying the Treasury benches ; but if they were false Ministers were entitled to be relieved from the imputation under which they suffered. The Government had not yet been able to make any arrangements with Mr Hutchison as to the personnel of the Committee. They had offered to add the name of Mr Withy to the Committee, or to refer the matter to a Supreme Court Judge to be selected by Mr Hutchison, and one member nominated by each side of the House ; but to either of these proposals the member for Waitotara had refused to agree.

Mr Kerr said that the Opposition merely asked that Mr Saunders's name should be substituted for that of Mr Ormond. He moved, as an amendment, that that be now done, and hoped that the House would agree to it. The Hon. Mr 'Ballante thought that Mr Hutchison was as anxious to have the charges investigated before a Committee of the House or any properly constituted tribunal as the Government could possibly be. (Mr Hutchison: "More bo.") But the Government insists ou having five of their most strenuous supporters on the Committee, and had given the Opposition the right to choose four Opposition members. He held that the fifth Government nominee should be as impartial a man as could be found, but the Government persisted on having all partisans. On all grounds Mr Hutchison was justified in refusing to drag a Judge of the Supreme Court into the contentions of political parties. The Hon. Mr Mitcitenson* : It is a (juestion of honor. The Hon. Mr Bai.i.anck : But it is also a political question, and it is impossible to separate the two. Whatever the decision may be, it is certain to give dissatisfaction to one party or the other, so it would be a pity to drag a Judge into it. For his own part, lie (Mr Ball'inee) did not express any opinion, as he had not the facts before him, and all that he wanted was to see the question fairly tried. The Hon. Mr FF.nr;rs said the Government had approved of every name submitted by the Opposition ; but the Opposition now demanded the right to name the ninth man, to which the Government would not agree. It would be time enough to discuss the matter at length when the Committee's report came up, if there was anything unfair in it. The impression left on his mind by Mr Hutchison's words was not confirmed by the ' Hansard'report of his remarks.

Mr Seddon', arguing aa to the constitution of the Committee, saw no reason why the Government should not name any four members they chose, but their fifth name should not be a pronounced partisan. The correspondence which had passed between the Hon. Mr Mitcnelaon and Mr Hutchison showed that the latter objected to Mr Withy being substituted for Mr Saunders, as he" came from Auckland, where the interests of the bank were understood to be paramount. He (Mr Hutchison) could not agree to any Supreme Court Judge trying what were" undoubtedly political issues. There eould bo no reason against the selection of Mr Saunders. He recommended that only eight committeemen should be appointed, and that they should select a ninth man.

The Minister of Education claimed that the character of the present, as well as of future Ministers, and also that of the Opposion, was involved in the inquiry about to be made, so that there should not be a moment's delay. All the names which had been offered to Mr Hutchison to choose from were those of colorless men. He maintained that the Government were entitled to five memberß out of every committee, and that they had made reasonable concessions in their negotiations with the member for Waitotara.

Acting on a suggestion thrown out by Dr Fitchett that an adjournment was desirable in order to allow time for more negotiations as to the constitution of the Committee—Mr Ward moved an adjournment of the debate, but this was opposed by the Government, and negatived by 37 to 27. A remark from Mr W. C. Smith—that it would now go forth to the country that the Government had refused to make any arrangements—drew from tho PostmasterGeneral the reply that three days had already been spent unsuccessfully in trying to arrange a committee. Mr Smith proceeded to say that it was plain that tho Government wanted to have the matter decided before it went to a committe at all. They wanted to put their strongest partisans on the Committee, including even Mr Bryce, who quite recently contested an election petition against Mr Hutchison.

Mr Barron thought it was impossible to have a committee of the kind absolutely free from party bias. After all, the report of the committee did not matter a great deal, for the House and the public would form their opinions upon the evidence given. Several other members having spoken, a division was taken on Mr Kerr's amendment to Btrike out the name of Mr Ormond from the members of committee, which was lost by 37 to 23. ThePosTMASTEB-GENERAL said he regrettd the tone taken by the Opposition during the debate, seeing that they had described members of the Committee appointed by the Government as partial men—(Opposition cheers) —who would bring up a report in favor of the GoTernment whether Minieters were proved to be right or wrong.— (Mr Fish: "So they will.') He did not think that these statements would be endorsed by the country. He wished to move that Mr Withy's name he substituted for that of Mr Fulton.

The SPEAKEE put the question that Mr Withy's name be substituted for Mr Fulton's, which was agreed to, and the motion for the appointment of the committee, as amended, was then carried on the voices. Although a good deal of party feeling was shown in the discussion, it was noticed that Messrs Bryce, Macarthnr, Ormond, Hutchison, and Sir John Hall walked out when the division was taken. The Committee will commence their investigations on Monday, and their inquiries will be based upon

the allegations made in Mr Hutchison's spuech. The Governmeut assert that they seek a full investigation, and express their confidence that the Committee will acquit them of the whole of the charges laid at their door.