POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 9835, 25 October 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Fnoii Ooa P&toiAMinrtAßY Repobteb.] Wellington, octobeb 25. Ttto ctoionfiai mnvn stnrf.

W>en theV Bank Bill is in committee Sir R. Stout will move the following clause:— " The selling bank shall provide compensation for all its officers who cannot obtain employment from the purchasing bank, or who, if they obtain employment from the Eurchasing bank, shall ceas9 to be employed ysuch bank within six months from the passiag of this Act. Such compensation shall be one month's salary for each year of service." Bestriding Allen Immigration.

The Minister of Labor gave notice to move for the reinstatement of .the Asiatic's Restriction Bill. Postponing the Census.

The second reading of the Census Bill having been moved it was attaoked by Mr E. M. Smith, who said it was deliberately designed at. robbing the North Island of her just share of representation. He hinted at the possibility of a loan for public works being brought down next year. Dr Newrhan also contended that it was an insidious attempt to deprive the North Island of equitable representation. Iu the South the constituencies averaged one representative for every 8,000 people, while in the North the proportion was one for every 9,000. Ho moved that the Bill be read sL second time that day six months. —Mr Eirnshaw, in seconding the amendment, said that the South was prepared a*i all times to see justice done to the North in the matter of representative adjustment.— The Premier repeated that the sole object of the Bill was to bring this oolony in line with the Mother Country and the other colonies, all of which had decided to take the next census in 1901. What, therefore, was the use of this colony taking a census when the other colonies had postponed it ? Another reason was that it would cost £20,000. The Government wottld not spend this money on the census, and he wished the House to know that he asserted that as regards inorease of population the North Island was not entitled to a single extra member at present. It was a great mistake to have a continual chopping and changing of the boundaries. Some of the changes made already were absolutely absurd. Besides, it would also be impossible to adjust boundaries now in time for the next General Election. —Captain Russell was not jealous of the South Island,; he only wished tiey ha 1 twice as many members, as he was confident that a large majority of the South Island members would support the Opposition in the next Parliament. He deprecated the autocratic conduct of the Premier in telling the House that whether it passed this Bill or not he should not spend the money in taking this census. He (Captain Russell) would take care that if the House passed the Bill Mr Seddon would and should spend the money to get the census taken. He believed they would yet arrive at a true solution of the position of the colony, and the admission of tho Premier himself furnished a strong illustration of our real financial condition. As to the Premier's statement that j there was not sufficient time for an adjustment of the boundaries, he pointed out that there would be a clear eight mouths to prepare jthem, which was surely sufficient. The Premier must have some other reason for postponing the taking of the census. Representation on a population basis had always been in existence in the colony. It would be decidedly improper to postpone the census till 1901,.as representation would be on an entirely wrong basis for that long period. Employment for Our Boys. On the committal of the Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill Mr R. Thompson called attention to the difficulty, in the existing state of the law, of getting our boys into the mercantile marine of this colony.—Sir R. Stout spoke to the same effect, and said that unless provision were made it was only a question of time when our shipping would be manned by foreigners. —The Minister of Labor expressed his preparedness to deal at the proper time with the matter. —Ou Mr Thompson's motion clause 7 was amended by providing that any vessel engaged in the coasialor incercolonial trade, and employing at least five A.B.s, might substitute two boys for one A.B.—A motion by Mr i'liani (for whom Mr J. W. Kelly moved) to prevent captains holding service certificates from commanding pas-senger-carrying ships was negatived on the voices.—The Bill was then read a third time and passed. A Hostile Motion. Mr Bell, in introducing the motion of whioh he had given notice traversing the Banking Agreement Bill, said that the proposed coalition between the two banks would lead to a monopoly, which, he thought, ww undesirable in the interests of tha colony. The Colonial Bank had always offered facilities to small traders which the large banks would not find it worth their while to afford. There was a very great deal of alarm felt at this tendency towards monopolies in the banking business. The Legislature seemed to have more regard for the Bank of New Zealand than for- the welfare of the taxpayers. Amalgamation was also likely to increase the ranks of the unemployed, by depriving a number of men of employment. He contended that the House had not had sufficient information to enable it to form a proper judgment as to the value of the agreement. If his motion had had no other effect than to produce the president's letter, which was laid on the table the previous night, it had done some good. The House had a perfect right to some information as to the price paid for the goodwill of the Colonial Bank, and it had a right to know what steps had been taken to determine the value of the assets, •and how far tho statements of the selling bank had been accepted. Referring to the present position of the Colojiial Bank, he said that if that institution had not been purchased by the Bank of New Zealand the only alternative to ama'ganmt ion would have been that the directors of tho Colonial must have called up further capital an.l continued in business, but that would have reduced the value of their shares to far less than was stated in the agreement. He regarded the guarantee of the Colonial Bank as being of very little value, and an analysis of the whole circumstance seemed to him to make the Bank of New Zealand tho Colonial's liquidator. Mr (Marsden) Thompson, in seconding the motion, contended that the House had a right to know more about the value of the assets and liabilities of the Colonial Bank. He regarded the agreement itself as a deliberate evasion of the Banking Act of last session. The House should refuse to agree to it. They were now dealing with the money of the taxpayers, and they had no right to trifle with funds belonging to the Bank of New Zealand, which was now so closely connected with the colony.

The Banking Agreement.

The Premier, in reply to Sir R. Slout, said that the opinion of the Crown law offic era was to the effect that, as to the bad and doubtful accounts, the law had been carried out, and the agreement in that respect was legal. As regarded the other points raised (the laying of the lists on the table of the House) their opinion was that the agreement was ultra vires because those lists had not been supplied. Through an oversight the House had passed an Act providing that the bank books and lists of everything should be laid on the table. This was impossible, and it was necessary to alter it by a Bill, which he would at once give notice of. No provision had been made regarding promissory notes and bills due to the selling bank being made payable at the purchasing bank, and it would be necessary in the Bill to provide for this. Mr Duthie this morning gave notice to move for a return showing the transactions in Colonial Bank .shares since March 15 last.

Sir R. Stout, while admitting that more information ought to have been given, had arrived at the conclusion from an exhaustive examination that £78,505, not representing the assets at all, must have been paid for the goodwill of the selling bank. The full value in the books of «he properties taken over would, he believed, show a loss of £20,000 or £30,000 if they were forced into the market. He suggested a postponement of the discussion on the resolution till the Banking Auymdment Bill

The Abattoirs IHfflculty. Some discussion took pla?e in the House this morning over the f port of the M to Z Petitions Committee against the application of the Dunedin City Council for an amendment of last session's Slaughter-house Act with a view to allowing abattoirs to be erested within half a mile of the Gaverabam Borough boundary.—Mr Meredith (chairman of the Committee) stated in answer to a question that there were five members present when the report was considered, which was above the average attendance at that Committee's meetings Mr Allen expressed regret that the report was brought down, because it was against the interest of'the community generally, and especially of the City of Dunedin. He did not know whether the Committee had taken evidence on both sides of the question, because he could not conceive it possible if the Committee had heard what had been said on behalf of the City of Dunedin in this respect that they could have brought down such a report as had been laid on the table. The adverse petition had been instituted by a Single individual, and not on behalf -of any borough. —Mr Morrison interjected "That is entirely incorrect," whereupon Mr Allen retorted sharply : " The hon. gentleman had better hold his tongue or I will tell the House what I know."—This met with cries of "A threat" and " Withdraw."—Mr Speaker said he must insist on language of this kind being withdrawn, and the request was at once complied with, Mr Allen explaining that he did not intend any threat to be conveyed. The member for Caversham knew perfectly well that if he (Mr Allen) did open his mouth and give private conversations with Mr Morrison he would put quite a different phase on the matter.—This provoked from Mr Morrison a challenge for the member for Bruce to give the House the benefit of all he knew, but Mr Allen declined, saying that he was unwilling to compromise his hon. friend opposite. He contended that the Dunedin Corporation had acted. strictly in accordance with legal advice, and that not the slightest opposition had been raised till the purchase of the site was completed. —Mr Morrison denied this assertion.—Mr Allen said that the Taieri County Council and the Caversham Borough Council were in favor of the abattoirs being erected on the selected si'e, and there was no valid reason why the work of construction should not be proceeded with at once. He moved to refer the matter back to the Committee for further consideration. —Mr Morrison submitted that the Petitions Committee had been furnished with all the material supplied by the Mayor of Dunedin to enable the member for Bruce to build up a case, and that that evidence had been given the fullest consideration to by the Committee. The Caversham Borough Council thought it would have been unneighborly-likc after the Dunedin Corporation had purchased the site—though the purchase was admittedly illegal—to have opposed the erection of the work. The Green Island Borough and people who were in the immediate neighborhood objected very strongly to the erection of the works. As to Mr Allen's statement that no opposition was taken to the action of the Dunedin Corporation, till after the purchase of the site was completed.—At this stage Mr Guinness moved the adjournment of the debate till Monday, ag<ftnst whioh proposal Mr Pinkerton pro. tested, saying that only one side of the matter had been placed before the House. In common justice to himself, as well as to the City of Dunedin, the matter should be threshed out.—The Premier Bairt he would only support the adjournment on the distinct understanding that the question was to be fully considered before the Slaughterhouses Amendment Bill, which he was Introducing, was disposed of.—The adjournment of the debate was then agreed to.

Further Delay. There seems to be little hope of the session closing this week. Despite the anxiety of Ministers to finish up it will probably be Monday or Tuesday before the prorogation is made. Mimcdiit Loans Conversion. The exact lenns of the compromise over the Duneclin Loans Consolidation Bill are these: It has been arranged that in the event of the first poll being a failure a second poll may be taken within two years ; the increase of the City Council's overdraft from £40,000 to £48,000 to bs paid out of the released sinking fund has bsen conceded; and clause 34, as to the creation of a sinking fund of 103 per centum, is retained. The llorowhcnua Block. As amended by the Native Affairs Committee, the Horowhenua Block Bill, which threatened to give a lot of trouble to the House, .is but a shadow of its former self, and is quite a harmless measure. It now merely provides thac the certificates of title relating to the Horowhenua Block are declared to be inalienable until after the last day of next session of Parliament, and that all proceedings in any court respecting such lands are to be stayed in the meantime. Knocked Out. Sir P. Buckley is suffering from comptate exhaustion, and will be confined to his house for a week or two. Treated with Indifference. The Government intend ignoring MiGeorge Hutchison's motion, which was founded on information supplied yesterday to the Public Accounts Committee, of which he is a member.

Carrie 00, Mi that another Stooret Commit *« ytot. %- gfJJEPi ¥!&* * ***" $? tee, consisting of ttew members, shoold be erected by no set up to go into the agreement j have bewnaalaig. fßw''M&** W"k „.*" The Premier rtbinittied that not a single [view of hm+a&jgitgfyeWtrm, thetoM*** reason had beeri urged for the rejection of fifteen to- tweiffijuttntasg»/J% j* Ta " the agreentent, and it would be against the. omitting to.','tffiltjflfjgflipy:'%**?**» *nprovisions of the Banking Act of last aeasioo portant, and im,jitomfa:tMym F»« to adjourn the after »j6>ill was; ; £«»,<*» to x*i»el the hotel te* brought down. He> moved as an amend-J become thjlj§ipp£SJs>yftl ment—"That t&b director* of the Bank of New Zealand having, inaccordance with the recommendations of. the Joint Committee, which recommendation was passed into law, and, with the approval of the officers representing the colony and after careful inquiry,- this Honße—notwithstanding that the contract does hot in minor details comply with the law—does not dissent, and recommends that legislation be introduced to remedy any defects." He contended that the assets of the selling bank were set down at the lowest possible rate. Those members who were supporting Mr Boil's motion were trying to undo the work of the House in the earlier part of the session. As to what has been said about a banking monopoly, his opinion was that there were already too many banks in New Zealand. The argument that the agreement should be rejected because a number oi bank clerks would be thrown out of employment was altogether too flimsy.