THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 177, 29 July 1896, Page 2

THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

MR GRAHAM AND THE PREMIER- ™ t "SIT DOWN SIR." esj [By Telegraph], I m" (From Our Special Correspondent.) mc WbUilnqton, This Day. QU The Chairman of the Banking Com- th< mittee unexpected y broke out in open Mr revolt this morning against the attempted Hi (Notation on the part of the Premier while nja Mr Montgomery, though oaltn in his de- cue mennour, was exoeedingly determinec|. ani The proiqeed^ngß ofthe Oomm^ttoe h,ave me given rise to very considerable talt( in the kn lobbieß. You hava already had a brief hai resum^ of what occurred, and futher par- uni tioulara may not prove, devoid of interest, &> Tha Ohaiiman stated that owing to the ex- lan oeptional and unprecedented position of the "io I Committee, inasmuflh aa its proceedings bee

were open to the press, Had .led vtcr speeches of undae length from its members." He felt it his duty to enforce the Standing; Oders of the House, .when in ; Oom-;-mittee, in regard toA>the v : :lengtb>aridj anmber of times a member might speak:-, Ihia had been rendered necessary, owing to] the Honse having deolined to .'endorse the; action of the Committee ip> limiting tba speeches of members. He asked tha" Com. mittee to bear him ont in the course be bad taken. The Premier said, " Very well, t more the adjournment of the Committee* To understand theeffeobof this motion ib is neoessary to explain that it is usually adopted in orde to open the way to disousslon. The Chairman, rising quickly and interrupting Mr Seddon : I decline .to allow business to be interrupted in this way. It is no use the Committee aotibg in this' way. The work cannot be gone on with. Tbs Premier : Sir, I claim the right. The Chairman : If the work of the Committee is to be interrupted in this way by this sort of motion and long speeches, I don't think there are aay means of getting through the work. We will simply have all our time taken np with mere talk. It will simply appear to me that on the part of certain members there is no desire co obtain that information that we were appointed to obtain. There are minutes so voluminous that they have takeu =evm or eight minutes to read. We have nothing to guide us in the conduct of our business, so as I have indicated we shonlp §o on under tbe Standing Orders of the (ouse. There is no need to discuss this matter now. ' ..-,.. The Premier : I quite agree with you and I was rising to help 1 you, but you will not permit me. - It is not within yonr power to apply rule 103 of tbe Standing Orders to any member of the Committee. The Chairman (sternly) : Sir, I will ask: you to sit down, I take the responsibility on myself after full consideration, I don't ask the Premier to tell me whether lam right or wrong. After the waste of time I think the time has come when we should either decide to do the business which we were set up to. do, or w'e'should be disbanded altogether. I take the whole responsibility of my action. lam taking it in asking that the business of the Committee should go on. The Premier said that the House by a motion had decided that Standing Order 103 should not apply to these proceedings. He proceeded to explain the result of the decision of the House when the- Chairman (interrupting) said in severe tones, Mr Beddon wiU you kindly sit down, Sir. The Premier, after a short hesitation, sat down. The Chairman (continuing) : " I have stated We case. The House . has declined to accept the resolution of the majority of the Committee, and the Premier has distinctly shown in the House that as his own amendment bad destroyed the Committee's motion it had served his purposes, and be had then called upon the House to negative his own amendment. That beingao I take it upon mysel f to say that I shall be guided by the Standing Orders of the Houae, that after due consideration I will not allow, tho Premier to discuss this' question now. When the time comes for it to be applied it should be then discussed. - Tbe Premier said it was to application of Standing Order 103, that he toos exception to, If- it were applied he would bring tbe matter before the House. The Chairman : Very well, I don't mind that. Mr Montgomery then rose and said' he desired to tiring before tho Committee the refusal of the Premier to withdraw the words :— " The most selfish and ungerous man he had ever met," applied' to himself (Mr Montgomery;. He asked thß Chairman to enforce his ruling. The Chairman then proceeded to review the soenoe of Friday last, when the words mentioned were dsed, He said ' Mr Montgomery, in ' a perfeotly .' courteous way, had suggested that, the Committee should adjourn, its sittings until Monday, in order that it might go on with work, notwithstanding absence of' the Premier. He had pouted out that it was agreed co put two Ministers upon the Committee for the express reason that sne might not always be able to cc present, owing to other duties, and the other could then take his place. The Premier then said that Mr Montgomery was the. most selfish and ungenerous man he had ever met. When called upon Mr Seddon deolined to withdraw tbe words. It was suggested that Mr Montgomery might accept tho statement from MrSeddon that the words had no offensive meaning. Mr Montgomery did not refuse to accept the statement or make any objeotion. He remained silent and for his (chairman's part he concluded that the assurance of the Premier waß accepted. However muou he (ohairman) might regret it, he must rule that Mr Montgomery, in making no objeotion at the time, and in not insisting upon a withdrawal had lost the right to object, and his recourse must be to the House. He was quite sure Mr Montgomery would accept that. He thought, however, that every member of tho Committee felt that the words of the Premier were words that ought not to have been said, and that the Premier ought to make a retraction. Mr Montgomery asked to be allowed to make an explanation. As he understood the position the Premier had been ordered to withdraw the words, but had instead accepted some suggestion from the Chairman. A member of the Committee having brought a breach of order before the notice of the Chairman it was the duty of the Chairman to see that order was maintained as he understood the Premier had declined to withdraw the words, and he (Mr Montgomery) was in an unfortunate position. The Chairman (interrupting) hoped the lion, gentleman would contine himself strictly to a personal explanation, otherwise the Committee will get into discussion. Mr Montgomery (coolly) : I have been what I consider insulted. The Chairman : I think the hon. gentleman must bring up this in another place. I am sure that Mr Montgomery will not add to the difficulties of the Committee. However much I regret it I feel that, under the circumstances, Mr Montgomery not having claimed the right. Mr Montgomery : Then I can no longer sit on the Committee. I must decline to act on the Committee while offensive words have .been used to me that will not be withdrawn, I shall feel it my duty to retire. Mr Montgomery tnen left the room. The chairman said that as the Premier was sitting dose to him, and there were reporters at' the other end of the room, it had been said that. on certain occasions he had acted under whispered instructions from the Premier in giving his ruling. This was not a fact, but he hoped the j Premier would not speak to him any more , than was necessary. ' The Premier.:, lam not particularly in , love.wlth you; Mr' Chairman, and I have iat alongside as good men as you many a bime,'Sir. ' . • - The taking of ovidonco was then proceeded with. In consequence of tbe no-confidence locate the Banking Committee adjourned s ;ill Friday on the understanding that the Committee will tben further, adjourn if £ ;he debate be not concluded. The Pro- v nier practically told the Committee that ia soon as the debate ended the House vould adjourn for a week to enable, the . 3ommiltee to aid continuously. • :"'\\. ' The Banking Committee of the jEegis'i ? ative Council have, during the past 48 i ionrs, examined Messrs Johnston, Mac- q .rthy, Booth, directors of the Bank of vj iew Zealand. % As it is contrary to etiquette that the f Council sit while a no-couh'depee debate ij 3 proceeding, Mr Walker will on the /ouncil reassembling this afternoon, move ™ ta adjournment to Tuesday. >, TILL FRIDAY NEXT, [United Press Association.] Wellington, This Day. \' The Banking Committee met at 10.30. fl tr Montgomery again took his seat. The H Ihairman reported that a oable had been p ant to Mr John Murray, Sydney/ stating £, lat his attendance was required by the A jmmittee. ' D Mr Seddon moved that the committee m ijourn in view of tbe no-confidence motion . . eljore.the.House. Heregretifed very muoh ,j t le motion had been brought forward, but le responsibility of blocking the busisss of the country must rest with" the' aderof the Opposition, Captain Rug- , ll's action was .entirely unprecedented, peoially as tho financial debate' hart listed and the finances', of the Govern- ™ ent had not been challenged. Mr utchison protested against the ad jour, n; ■*■' erit and challenged the. Premier,, to" 4) wte a precedent) for the' adjournment) of l c Committee under such 'Circumstances. r Guiuneaßsaid ie was oustomary, - ; Mr A 1 utobison said thab departure igtight.-be ■.-•:'' ade from the customary oquree in .-the- "■' se of this Committee, 'Messrs Maslitf Ac id Montgomery opposed . the adjournsue. Mr McKenzie said he had never iQwn an instance where a Committee 8 ,d sat while a vote of no-confidence was der discussion. The connection :of the * ivernment with the Bank of New Zeaid was referred to in Captain Russell's j aci )tion, for the five millions alleged to have I Cij en borrowed by the' Government must I all

bankft" 'Maj?r^|6Bward^gaid "' thef4«S|S!^^ altuougu7he'hfflt known exceptions."; ; "MrJ^p Seddon th*t ' the i Cominitiigß^^ should filjoumfa . acbordance ;witK9,the^® custom, and he",imended ;his motion; ff6r|^ adjoarnment t>U^day/ which was agrtfßdt-L|*|| to by five^torthree. 1 ' ,' v-^-.i - ■-■'_■-..(' -^V-iijS/ll