Political Intelligence.

Southland Times, Issue 14101, 14 July 1898, Page 3

Political Intelligence.

(By Telegraph.) (from oub parliamentary correspondent.) Wellington, July 13. This afternoon Mr Fisher,whose antipathy to Sir R. tit-out is well known, asked the Premier (1) if it is true or untrue that the New Zealand Pine Company, one of the group of Guthrie Companies, of which Sir Robert Stout is chairman, has been sold, look, stock and barrel, for L 14,000; (2) if it is a fact that the company stood in the books of the Bank of New Zealand as value at LUO,OOO, and if so (3) does the bank—that is the colony—under its guarantee lose the balance, viz., L 96,000? In putting the question Mr Fisher concurred in the Premier’s resolution to decline to answer any questions that would necessitate an attempt to pry into the ordinary business of the Bank of New Zealand, but this question referred to matters of public notoriety and involved a great loss on the bank, and in consideration that the people of the colony have guaranteed the bank to the extent of five millions, it became encumbent upon the Government to watch the interests of the taxpayeis. He understood that by these Guthrie’s Co.’s the bank lost L200,0U0 and he hoped the Government would give some quietening and satisfactory answer to the questions. The Supreme Court had imvestigated the concerns of the Guthrie group and he hoped that a judicial exposure of their dealings would be availab'e to the public. The Premier in reply said he had no knowledge of the transactions and did not intend to seek for information from the bank All the colony cared to know and ought to know was that the bank was doing a safe business and was conducted on safe lines. The balance sheet shows that the bank had made progress and consequently he must accept it that if there had been further losses they have been provided for. When they fixed up the banks L 200.000 was set aside to provide for future contingencies. They were asked to increase that but he had no information to enable him to tell the colony that further provision had been required by the bank in this connection.—Mr Fisher: Is the Government in possession of any report from the auditor in respect to these Guthrie companies ?—The Premier : No. The safeguard of the guarantors was the auditor and he had signed the balance sheet. The auditor’s instructions were not to report on any of the companiesand the information he (the Premier would receive wouldonly be respecting any losses occurring in any provincial district. , ~ T ... . .. This afternoon Mr McLean said .that it was well known that inferior meat from River Plate was sold in London for New Zealand mutton. That was an injustice which ought to be remedied and he pointed out that an Imperial Meat Import Bill, while benefiting other places would not atop the injury to New Zealand exporters, fjijjg Premier admitted the importance of the question and said the Imperial Bill did an injustice to this colony. He could not eay whab should b# done, but the Government would assist in any way possible. The Government stonewalled a motion for a return this afternoon when Mr Wright moved to set up a committee to enquire and report on the best means of securing a quick and regular steam service between^ Wellington and Lyttelton. The Government Whip BOOke to the motion in stonewalling style ; then the Premier took up (the running and advocated the Government having their own up-to-date steamers. He said the scourge of the colony was monopolies, but failed to say a single word about the Anglo-German mining syndicate. The House saw there X little or no sincerify in the Premiers eupport to the project, lor the stonewall was continued by Government followers in orde?to burke Mr G. Hutcheson’s motion that there be laid before this House a return showing the items making up sums of Lil 232 for “commission and brokerage and'bs6l for “sundries” connected with the raising of the million and a half loan under the Advances to Settlers Act, giving in each instance the pt non to whom or the company to which the money was paid, and like particulars cf a further sum of L 73 for lees and disbursements" in connection with the creation of the loan (as mentioned in unauthorised exjenditure account B 41,898), so Mr Wiight’s motion was only carried on the voices at the adjournment. Mr Taylor is again on the Premiers track. He is asking Mr Seddon if he arranged with fhe chairman & the Police Gommiision to be

excused from answering questions, and if be has given instructions to the Government printer to delay the printing of the Police Commission’s report for the purpose of preventing its being discussed by the House this session ? At this the Premier laughed. Postponing the laying on the table of certain correspondence dealing with a land purchase in Patea, moved for by Mr George Hutchison, the Minister for Lands said he would endeavour to do so to-morrow. Mr Hutchison: I can oblige the Minister; I have all the correspondence here.—Mr McKenzie did not accept the offer. Mr Cadman said, in reply to Mr Gilfedder, that if it could be arranged with the Post and Telegraph Department to amalgamate the work of that department with the duties of stationmaster one would be appointed at BaFour. In supporting his question charging rabbit inspectors in Southland with being amenable to ..he hospitality of squatters Mr Gilfedder said that farmers in Long-lip (?) and Mossburn districts complained of the inspectors’ favouritism to station owners ; this was particularly applicable to Castle Rock. The farmers further complained that rabbits were allowed to increase on stations and then come down on their farms. The Minister of Lands said that if those farmers who comp’ained formulated charges in writing he would have the matter investigated. The Government are arranging to.appoint Dr Stevens to attend to Maoris residing ab Rivtrloo and Colac Bay. (Per Press Association.) A deputation of members of Parliament waited on the Premier this evening and pointed out certain defects in the Rating on Unimproved Values Act which required amendment. Mr O’Regan explained that in Inangahua, where the Acb had been adopted, mining companies would have to pay two and a half times as much taxation as previously owing to the fact that as the Act stood they could not obtain exemption for certain improvements, 'such as tunnels and winzes. Other members urged that power to utilise the provisions of the Act should be given to road beards, and also that a majority of those who actually voted should decide the question. Mr Seddon promised to consult the law officers.