POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10496, 21 October 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Fcosr Ode Own ConoBSPOND__Nr.)

Wellington,-October 20. THB BANKS' AGREEMENT; Zf

The banks' agreementis, fram the mere fsusb of its obscurity alone as to many points, looked upon by many membsrs with doubt and suspicion. It is felt thafc ifc is impossible to

understand it without the schedules,, and that generally the purchasing bank should not have touched any of the assets ./.r businesses thafc required tbe collateral guarantee of the selling bank. Then the taking ovex of the landed property and bonk premises of the Colonial at the values appearing in_. the balance sheet is demurred to, for obviously in many localities they witl be comparatively a beth aesetto the Bank of Now Zealand. ■ Why, too, is the margin of liability, excepting ss to the accounts in list " C," limited.?; And what is the meaning of clause 28 ? These are some ef the many questions that are being asked, and there is a probability of an organised effort being madsto obtain a .elect _o__n__fcte_ of inqmry. Bat I understand that tbe Premier does notthink it -necessary, and if this he co Parliament may whittle for information. The ORposition is to hold a caucus to-morrow morning, and- will probably decide to*move for Veommittse;, bht nothing has yet .beeu determined, 7 and. the result, so far as Parr__mSnfc is concerned, is a foregone conclusion. . ' , V THE LIQ-008 BILL. Zf

The conference of the two Houses on the Liquor Bill safe for several hours yesterday, bat arrived at no definite agreement. The meeting has been adjourned fco Uonday. The managers representing the Council, though prepared to make reasonable compromises npon many points in dispute, will nob give way on Ute main question,—cuch as national prohibition, the position of clubs, and New Zealand wine licenses.'They maintain thafc national prohibition is a,, separate question, and should not be dealt with in. this bill, and the people of the colony have not pronounced m favour of such an interference with J individual liberty. Their amendments as-fco clubs come back to the existing law. They .contend that clubs are nofc pubHchouses, and should nofc ha treated as such. ' Additional" inspection might, however, be jgranted. As*; to the wine, licenses, :tie Council's managers urge that to stop them would seriously:"inter-' fere with, an industry, established witli ,j__e. encouragement and concurrence of tiie Legislature; Upon most of the ofcher point*, .the Council is prepared for compromise.' "^ The number of proposals to be voted on under clause 6 might be increased fco two, fche House having declared for three and-the Counoil foe one. As to the effect of the reduction poll being carried, both parties seem inclined to agree upon a sort of sliding 'seate'in-tesdrof the 10 per oenfc. minimum carnedjby the Honse of Representafives. A compromise of.fmic ihiles to constatafcea traveller will proveiaoceptable, and other lesser point, can also be fixed up. There is a disposition among mosfc.of.the representatives of fche-Lower House to meet the Council in a reasonable spirit, and'soma people thinktthe bill may jet', become law in a in«3ifled form. However, the fact remains; &ii upon two of-the leading questions, in' dispute;---., namely, national prohibit-lot- and the position of the dubs—tte Conncil take a very firm stand, and fcha representatives qf the Honse must apparently give'way if in agreement io to be arrived at; but tbeie seems but little prospect . of this, and the only alternative that remains, _s the laying aside of the measure for the present se.sioa. This, in the opinion of many competent judges, will Jtritiniately bs the result oi the ounfereuee.",; •■ ~7.;;f--]. J. ,■'■', ' .