MARINE COMMISSION REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8588, 7 August 1899, Page 2

MARINE COMMISSION REPORT.

MINISTERS VER* RETICENT

ABOUT IT.

PROBABLE NO-CONFIDENCE

MOTION.

Per Press Association.)

Wellington, to-day. Ministers decline to make the report of the Marine Commission public at present. The Times stales that Ministers are exonerated by it; but not all the persons concerned in the charges.

(Parliamentary Reporter. )

Ministers are reticent as to the finding of the Marine Commission, and decline to be drawn by pressmen as to the contents of the report. According, however, to lobby gossip, the Premier is absolutely exonerated, but Mr Hnll-Jones conies in for a mild rap over the knuckles owing to his leaving it to be inferred by his departmental officers that he was anxious to see Captuin Jones get his certificate. The other parties implicated are more or less held to be blameworthy, and it is understood that Captain Altaian's evasive answers cause his evidence to he regarded with suspicion. The report itself will be laid on the table to-morrow evening, but the evidence and exhibits will not be ready for some time. t It is not considered unlikely that the Oommission«rs' finding will be the basis of a no-confidence motion, directed against Mr Hall-Jones's marine administration. This, it is hoped, will detach Mr Montgomery, and possibly Mr McNab, from the Government following.