The Banking Question.

Hastings Standard, Issue 70, 17 July 1896, Page 3

The Banking Question.

A SERIOi:S FINE. Wellington, This day. At the Banking sub - Committee meeting to-day a motion by Mr Montgomery was carried that without proof of relevancy the Committee could not call evidence set out in Mr Guinness's notice of motion re Walter Guthrie and Co., and other companies referred to. When the Committee met Mr Watson was in attendance, and was asked the same question by the Chairman as was put previously, when he returned the same answer. Mr Hutchison said the Committee must deliberate. Mr Watson asked when he would be wanted again. ' Mr Sed<Jon : " When we want you again you will be sent for." The Cemmittee room was then cleared, but the result of the deliberations was not made known. Later. It is understood that the' decision which the Banking Committee arrived at in the camera was that a motion should be tabled in the House adjudging Mr Watson guilty of contempt and demanding him to be fined £SOO unless the contempt be removed. Latest. Mr Graham brought up the report of the Banking Committee as to Mr Watson declining to answer questions. The Premier said a serious matter was involved, and he intended to make a motion dealing with it at 7.30, and he thought it desirable that Mr Watson should be requested to be in attendance. Captain Russell suggested that before judgment was pronounced on Mr Watson that he be heard at the bar of the House and that counsel be heard in his defence. The Premier replied that he intended asking Mr Watson to be heard. Mr G. Hutchison pointed out that the House had not to consider a matter of law, but of the dignity of Parliament. On no instance on record had a contumacious witness before a Parliamentary Committee been heard'by counsel at the bar of the House. Mr Bell said there was such an instance arising out of the Banking Committee which sat in 1875. Were the privileges of Parliament to be over-ridden, or was Parliament to be defied by the officers of the Bank of New Zealand? Mr Watson had not arrived at the conclusion hastily, but the whole matter of refusing to give replies to the Banking Committee was premeditated on the part of the Bank on the advice of counsel. The Premier will move to-night as the result of Mr Watson's continued refusal to answer that he be fined £SOO.