THE HUTCHISON COMMITTEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9173, 5 August 1890, Page 5

THE HUTCHISON COMMITTEE.

[By Telegraph.] [from our special correspondent.] WELLINGTON. August 4. The great subject of gossip is the collapse of the Hutchison Committee. The general opinion is that the matter cannot be allowed to drop. The general belief is that the Government intends to do something, and that immediately. The reports vary. One report is that Ministers, remembering the extreme fairness with which the Legislative Council Committee investigated the Ward-Hialop business last year and reported, have made up their minds to ask the Council to take the matter up. I shall believe the story when I hear that Mr Hislop is the particular Minister who insists on the appeal to the Council. Another report 'that the Government will move for a Judicial Commission a. la Parncll-Ttmes. This I believe to be true. I have reason to know that Ministers have declared their intention of moving in that direction and their determination not to let the matter rest. It is said that Judge Williams and Chief Justice Prendergast are likely to be nominated. Much depends on whether Mr Withy and his Committee continue their functions. Ministers are waiting for his decision, but they will make him decide early, and they are very determined not to allow the thing to rest. If the Committee falls through, as seems most probable, they are prepared to ask Mr Hutchison to appoint one judge, themselves appointing the other. Bather than allow the thing to fall through they are willing to allow Mr Hutchison to appoint both judges. The idea of getting Victorian judges over to report has been mentioned, only to be scouted. You may take it as certain that the Government intend to leave no stone unturned to get this matter settled. The four Opposition members of the Hutchison Committee have definitely made up their minds to retire, and will take no further part in the proceedings.