News from the Capital.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 166, 23 July 1896, Page 4

News from the Capital.

(Wellington Correspondent.) „, ' • " - . KISSING THB EOD. Sir . Maurice O'Rorko's expression of regret— "hope that the Minister would 9Toripok it — for having called the Hon. John McKenzie to order when he let his torigue run riot and referred* to a man aiHslde the House, and unable to retaliate, as _ "«• base liar," is the talk of the town. That he, a Speaker among Speakers, notable for his strict adherence to the Standing Orders end the dignity of ihe House, should permit himself to express regret for doing his plain duty, shows " that very strong pressure had been brought to bear on him to induce him to depart from his hitherto hsgh ideal of Parliamentary procedure. Although secrecy was insisted on, the detail's of the affair are now publio property,, and they disclose a state of affairs which is not reassuring to the party. It appears that the Hon. John . "took a fit of sulks after being called to order on the Thursday evening, and he would not come near the House next day. He wanted to attend with the object of making a scene, but the Premier objected, ■so he remained in the sulks. Then Mr Seddon took to coaxing, but that was • just as ineffectual. He would not enter the 'House again, except on the understanding that the Speaker was made to eat humble pie and apologise for calling him to order, and it is generally understood that he handed his resignation to his ohief. Armed with this, Mr Seddon waited upon Sir Maurice O'Rorke, and, whatever- the persuasions, or threats might have been, he induced that gentleman to agree to kiss the rod. It was expected on Tuesday afternoon that there ' Would have been a ' scene, as no one - anticipated that the striot disciplinarian would budge from the proper stand he took regarding disgraceful language being used by members. But after Mr Seddon got in a' speech on the then ground of privilege, of which there was no breach, Mr Speaker made a few observations, .and then apologised in the terms at the - head of this paragraph, and the Hon. John, being mollified, also expressed regret, and the incident, so far, was over. But it has left a deep impression behind it that a precedent has been established and an example set which further besmirches the name of the N.Z. Legislature, following so close, as it does, on „ the \reeent violent speech of the exTreasurer. What can be expected of road board meetings or women's social and democratic leagues, when Ministers call "people " base liars," and such language is recorded in ' Hansard.' The episode shows very clearly the progress we are making towards despotism. THE BANK ENQUIRY. The Lower House Committee has started work. Not yet as regards inspecting books, but as to order of procedure, and a passage-of-arms or two between the Premier and Mr George Hutchison indicated that there will be a struggle on the part of the former to keep the enquiry to 1888 as much as possible, and by the latter to reach 1894-5 within a reasonable time. It was agreed, first of all, .that this Committee should proceed independently of the Legislative Council one, as the order of reference of the latter only dealt with the events of 1894-95. Then it was agreed that the parties interested should be represented by counsel if they wished, and that they should not be ' allowed. to make addresses. The following arrangement of business was then agreed on:— (1) As to the B.N.Z. Its position at each half-yearly period since 1888. The several valuations made of its assets. Its management. Its balancesheets . since Ist January, 1888 : thentruth and fulness. The amounts written off. ■ What led to such writing off. The fulness and accuracy of the information disclosed since Ist January, 1888, by its directors, officers, and agents. Their conduct and fitness. The present prospects, 'fitness, and value of all properties and all statements and reports in reference thereto. This of itself is a large order, and would tax the faculties of skilled accountants to focus the business in more months than the Committee has allowed itself weeks, but it has laid itself out for a similar line of investigation in respect to the B.N.Z. Estates Company and the Auckland' Agricultural Company. Having performed these feats, it will then be ripe to tackle the Colonial Bank, and overhaul that in a similar way. The next proceeding will be to enquire into the appointments of Messrs Watson and Mackenzie to the 8.N.Z., their connection with th 3 Colonial Bank, and persons or companies who may have been its clients. If the Committee lasts out to this stage it- will then, if not exhausted, tackle the banking legislation, and who was instrumental in promoting the purchase of the Colonial Bank. Lastly, the Committee wilTfind out (if it can) the information in the hands of the Government, or any member thereof, at the time of the banking legislation of 1893-4-5, and since that -. time, the sonrce of such information, and the accuracy and fulness thereof. . These preliminaries being agreed upon, Mr Hutchison proposed to call Mr "Watson and the Colonial Bank liquidators as witnesses, and this at once roused the Premier, who said that the proposal was a direct hit at Mr Ward and his Company. Both he and the Hon. John McKenzie advocated taking the business in the order laid down, and in time they would reach the Colonial Bank. After some debate, Mr Hutchison gave notice of motion to call the parties referred to as witnesses. The Premier said it was clear that Mr Hutchison intended to introduce personal and political questians, and the member for Fatea said he oertainly intended. Jio bring in political ones. Some further' discussion then took place as to how far the examination of -Mr Watson should go,- and Mr Hutchison then moved that two accountants should enquire into and report on the balancesheets of the J. G. Ward Association, and prepare a balance-sheat up to June, 1896. The Premier : " It is quite clear what you are driving at." Mr Hutchison : " I am driving at the truth, and I mean to get at it." Further warm passages followed between the two, and the Committee adjourned. It is evident that with the majority the Government has on tho Committee, that the researches into the past history of the B.N.Z. could be spun out to the length of a. lease in perpetuity, but as the Upper House Committee's enquiry commences ■with 1894 there is every prospect of the two reports together throwing some daylight upon the hidden mysteries. THE BUDGET. The new Treasurer made his Financial Statement in all the glories of a dress suit, a white flower in his button-hole, and the air of a man to whom Goschen or Gladstone is a mere amateur. His delivery was hardly up to his dress, and he was likened to the low comedy man in a play trying to do the heavy father business. Summed up in a few words, the Budget says — "Give me a million to fight the elections with ; there is so much for you, and you and you. It all depends on your behaviour how, when, and where it will be spent." As for self reliance and non-borrowing the Budget confesses to an increase of debt during the Liberal regime of .64,928,581, most of which has been borrowed during the past three years. It is not called borrowing — " aids to revenue "is the term. For the coming year a quarter of a million each is asked for railways, roads, and native lands, £200,000 for goldfields, .€IIO,OOO for local bodies, £175,000 for buying more estates, and .£50,000 for realising on our national assets in making roads to " the cool silence among the stalactites of the Waitomo caves, the fern groves of Tokaanu, the dizzy heights of Sutherland falls, the

surging river hurling through the boulders at Arthur's Pass," and so on. Quite a picturesque Budget it is, but it was hugely laughed at and jeered at by all present with the sole exception of Mr Hogg, who alone, applauded. The goldfields proposal was received with ominous winks. How much of this would go, people are are asking, in £ for £ subsidies to a certain syndicate, and how much to help along the ISO miners at Kumara who ought to be wanting another sludge channel about now? There is a very strong resemblance between the Budget in parts to an auction advertisement of desirable sites, but there are votes enough to carry the loan proposals in the House.