Minister Mitchelson and the B.N.Z.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 622, 29 November 1890, Page 9

Minister Mitchelson and the B.N.Z.

The following by • Puff ' in the Wellington Press shows how Mr Mitehplson's statement in Parliament was received when the question of his connection with the Bank of New Zealand was raised : — Did you hear the acting Premier last night ? I listened to him, but I could not hear him ! Seems to have been a deal of solid matter ! Possibly ! If so, he ought to have put it through a Papin's digester, for it was in the crudest, roughest form that Ministerial explanations have been ever offered to the House ! Did you make out his explanation to Jack Kerr of the Taupo business ? Not I ! The main point was that the B.N.Z. never had any interest in the leases of the Taupo lands ! And that the B.N.Z. hnd never appraached him on any subject since he had been a Minister ! I say, do you recollect the great Mordaunt divorce case P Of course I do ! The Prince of Wales was charged with too intimate visits to Lady Mordaunt ! Well ! And what did he do ? Went into the box like a Galantuomo and swore he nevoiM The parallel is not a bad one. The Press further said, in a leading article, about the time the Hutohinaoa charges were made : — ' The Bank is not an ordinary Bank ; it has been a political institution and held a place in the Government of this colony which is quite unparalleled. When, therefore, such charges as these made by Mr Hutchison, as to the relation of Ministers individually and in their private accounts to this Bank are unanswered and unrefuted, when all the armoury of the law is ransacked for weapons and all the strength of the party vote is brought to bear to prevent the inquiry into those relations, there is only one conclusion, — tha,t it was essential to thta Bank aud the Ministry to prevent the investigation from taking piace.'