POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 10746, 5 October 1898, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(Fbom Ora Parliamentary Reporter ]

WELLINGTON, October 5 A Rereremlnm Wanted. Mr George Hutchison and Mr Massey have given notice to move that the Pensions Bill be not brought into operation until after a vote of the eleotora has been taken approving of the measure. Thia new danse is likely to receive considerable support. The Midland Hallway. The meeting of the Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson members of the House r« the Midland Railway question was adjourned till to-morrow afternoon, in consequence of several members having other engagements. At the outset Mr Graham insisted there should be a aefinite understanding, as it would be useless to expect Nelson’s support aolasa it was proposed to consent to some expenditure on the Nelson portion of the line. Mr Guinness was chairman of the meeting. A Hint to tbe tiovernmenl. A plain indication was given to the Government to-day that it is undesirable to introduce further legislation this session. When leave was asked to introduce the Inspection of Machinery Acta Amendment mil, which is a measure of a single danse, to provide for the granting of certificates, protests were raised against its introduction by Messrs Smith, Pirani, and Carncross, and on s division leave was only given for the introduction of the measure by 33 to 20. Mr Hutchison and the Premier. At a meeting to-day of the Committee apEointed to inquire into the accusations made y. Mr George Hutchison in the House against the Premier, charging him with being in partnership with certain Chinese under the name of Bun Tuck, being concerned with his uncle, Nathaniel Seddon, in / certain alleged frauds in the Kumara Council, a letter was received from Mr Hutchison in reply to a request to attend tbd Committee declining to do so, on the ground that it was not an impartial tribunal. Thp Committee thereupon resolved that he twynmmoned to attend as a witness. A resolution moved by the Hon. J. G Ward, expressing regret at the imputations upon the impartiality of the Committee, was negatived by tho casting vote of the chairman (Mr Sligo). The Premier made a statement as to the evidence and tho. documents he intends to produce. He also expressed an opinion as to the unfairness of Mr Hutchison's refusal to attend, and said that he intended to call a number of witnesses. The Committee fixed the charges under two separate headings : (1) The charges against Mr Seddon and his relative ; (2) Mr Hutchison’s statement that Mr Baddon was a partner with Chinese and had been known as Bun Tuck. It was resolved the man who was Mayor of Kumara at the lime of the alleged overpayment there, the town clerk, the auditor, thp Crown Prosecutor, and others, and also to obtain reports of the cases before the Magistrate’s and Supreme Courts, and to obtain the judge’s and magistrate s notes. s?he Committee adjourned till Tuesday. (fheso ore the reasons given by Mr HutchiSon for refusing to attend the Commiitep to.lay:— Memorandum for tho rlerk of “ The Allegations made by the Member for Pntea Committee ’ : I am in receipt of your letter setting out tho text of the resolution passed by the Committee, including an invitation to attend next meeting, I desire that you will convey to the Committee an expression of my regret that the inquiry itttothecorrectnessor otherwise of the allegations 1 blade regarding the Premier should proceed under the auspices which appear to control the investigation. As stated by me in the debate last week, on the motion to set up a committee, I viras (and still am) prepared to appear before any iln partial tribunal to support the material allegations I made. In spite of that wish, and possibly because of further intimation that 1 would decline to appear before such a committee as was proposed, the present Committee were set up by a party vote on the motion of the Minister of Lands, who, in the original dbbate. displayed most bitter and malignant hostility to myself. As a significant feature of the proceedings, the Minister of Lands continues to take a prominent part in an inquiry having for its ostensible object the Investigation of matter which he designated in language which, if used by any other person, would probably nave suggested the decency of not appearing In the triple character of slanderer, prosecutor, ahd-judge. I desire to say that in the appointment of a chairman a choice has been made Which in itself could not be improved upon, but’ I cannot discern in that step, which was token, lunderstand, on the motion of the Minister of Lands, any more commendable a desire than to give the appearance of fairness to a tribunal which retains the objectionable elements of a partisan Committee. The voting power remains unaltered ; the Premier has still his majority, and the casting vote of the c’i .inn m could only be exercised in the event of a tie-a contingency which may be anticipated as never likely to arise. In the circumstances I beg to decline the invitation of the Committee. ____