PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7658, 17 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington, to-day. THE MINISTERIAL CAUCUS. At the Ministerial caucus yesterday afternoon the Premier suggested the appointment of a Joint Committee consisting of six members of each branch of the Legislature, to enquire into the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company and Colonial Bank, subsequent and prior to the legislation of 1894 and 1895, such committee to enquire iuto tho confidence and capacity of the officers employed. The suggestion was approved of and the Government will in each branch of the Legislature move for a committe to be set up. Mr Ricearton Rnssell said that members of the Legislative Council feel vexed that they should be led by an unpaid Minister, but the Premier treated his remarks with silent contempt. The need of appointing an AttorneyGeneral was mooted, to which Mr Seddon replied that there was no great necessity for that portfolio being filled, and Cabinet wore considering the necessity of making the appointment. COUNCIL BUSINESS. The Cabinet Bat for two hours yesterday, but the only business transacted was the appointing of Major Baillie as Chairman of Committees. The address in reply was adopted on the the motion of the Hon. Mr Arkwright, seconded by tho Hon. Geo. Jones. The former spoke with fluency, but the proprietor of the Oamaru Mail appeared to be suffering from nervousness, and was inclined to be a trifle prolix. Both gentlemen agreed that the Government had set themselves too extensive a programme. After a few remarks of an adverse nature by the Hon, Mr Pharazyn, the motion was adopted.