PARLIAMENTARY

Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8389, 27 June 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association )

Wellington, June 26. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30. Mr Seddon moved an amendment re tie Banking Committee (already te'egraphed), and he said as Parliament was the highest tribunal in the land it was only right it shou d hold an enquiry in-, stead of a Royal Commission. This Committee would not jeopardise the position of the Bank of New Zea'and, and it was not intended to interfere and enquire into the accounts of all those who did business with the Bank, but it would serve to show who were responsib'e for the present state of things. Captain. Russell refused to act on a Committee which was so unfairly constituted, consisting as it did of seven Government supporters, two Opposition, and one independent. It was a partisan Committee to rake up the antecedents of those on the Conservati<e side of the House. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said the Government had nothing to concea* in Ahe matter, and he was willing that the Committee shou'd be op=n to the ptess. If the Bank would nob stand the test the.. Government proposed that it was time ; the institution went into liquidation ! Sir R. Stout declared that if the Go- • vernment wanted to wreck the Bank of New Zealand the Premer's motion was the very thin •: to do if. He agreed there should be an enquiry, but no members of the Government shou'd be on the Com- • mittee. j Mr-G. W. Russell moved an amendment: "That a committee shobld enquire into (1) the circums-tances leading to the two ; million guarantee to the Bank of New j Zealand in 1894; (2) Matters relating to the appointment of Mr Watson, President, and Mr McKenzie, General Manager of Bank of New Zealand ; (3) All matters ' r elm ing to the ama'gamation of the Colonial and Bank of New Zealand." Mr Collins seconded the amendment and declined to sit on f,he Committee proposed by Premier Seddon. He said the Government we^e willing to alter the namis of the Committee. Several other members having spokon the Premier supported the motion for the adjournment of the debate, which was carried by 32 !o 28. The House roae ot 1.15.