Something Like a Threat

Southland Times, Issue 14100, 13 July 1898, Page 3

Something Like a Threat

[By Telegraph]. Wellington, July 12. Mr Watson, President of .the Bank of New Zealand has addressed a commumcaSn to rubers of both Houses of P-rha-ment in which he resents the language used auainst him last session under Parliamentary Sieges by the member for Ellesmere and the member for Marsden. He says : Convinced as I am of having betrayed no trust renosed in me, either by Government or by any member of the community, and having had no personal dealings with Mr Montgomery I can only conclude that, being he was led into making the remarks he did by hearsay promptings of one or two persons with whom I have had differences of opinion, or perhaps by one or two officials of the bank whose jealousy of mvself as a stranger, being appointed President, is well known. When I was before the Parliamentary Committee of 1896 my mouth was sealed regar - ing transactions in certain accounts with the Bank of New Zealand and rvinnial Bank. It will be remembered that J." e.,“n tb. clear-which I could easily have done by ten—refers to the Premier’s statement at Akaroa that a baling bill was again to be brought nn thia session and concludes thus. Gir cumstances have transpiied which make it nobnger necessary to observe reticence regarding the accounts referred to above, and 1 claim as a right that, before passtng a bill thereby my honour and reputation would wffer, Parliament should institute full enquiry into all my acts, either before or -after my appointment, as President of the Bank of New Zealand.