The Hastings Standard Published Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1896. THE BANKING DEBATE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 53, 27 June 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1896. THE BANKING DEBATE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The debate last night on the motion of the Premier to set up a Committee to inquire into the banking legislation of the past three years was remarkable in many ways. The speeches were brief, pithy, and somewhat sulphurous. There is no mistaking the temper of the House. There is a concensus of opinion that an inquiry is necessary and must be held, the only difference being as to the scope of the commission and the composition of the tribunal to secure the necessary informatiqn. The Premier apparently accepted the situation with commendable promptitude, and quietly gave in to the demands of the House to select its own Committee; also, that the proceedings before the Committee should be open to the press. The debate centred round the scope of the inquiry, and it Teas made absolutely clear by speaker after speaker on both sides of

the House that the mere turning over of dead men's bones for political purposes will not be countenanced. For that reason the motion of the Premier, which is vague in its terms and admits of the raking up of the dead past, was strenuously opposed, so much so that had the motion gone to a vote last night defeat was inevitable The amendment proposed by Mr Ric carton Russell met with more general approval, although it is not entirely satisfactory. The amendment, however, is infinitely superior to the motion, defining, as it does, the order of reference. The attitude of the House may be accurately guaged by the vote on the adjournment, which was carried by 82 to 28, although, as a matter of fact, it should have been 81 to 29, for the reason that, according to our Wellington special correspondent, one member was locked in and obliged to vote with the Government, an incident which was immediately explained to the House. We are satisfied that there exists a genuine desire on the part of members to probe this matter to the bottom, and after the plain speaking of last night the Government should accept the position and allow the House to approach this matter free of party prejudice. We do not think the motion of the Premier will stand, and we think it will bo found that the adjournment was forced to enable a compromise to be arranged. After the debate of last night the mat-tor has assumed a more serious aspect, and in the interest of all concerned no time should be lost in setting a competent tribunal to work.