EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4791, 7 September 1883, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. The Bill was then put and passed, and also the Fublio Works Appropriation Bill. On the motion of Major Atkinson, the Publio Aooounts Committee was discharged. DABGAtIELB BHQUIBT. Mr Mabon moved — "That the report of the Dargaville Enquiry Committee.be adopted." He said the enquiry had been conducted with as little party or personal feeling as could possibly be done. Xvery opportunity was afforded Mr Dargaville for the purpose of establishing his allegation, and they had arrived ot a unanimous deoision. Mr Montsombby said that they should not adopt ths report or carry the matter any further. He was deeply impressed with the importance of maintaining the honour of the House ; Btill, he thought that in this matter the report fully vindicated the Treasurer, and that the matter should not be pressed further. It would appear to the country in the light of a party vote. He quoted from the records of the Imperial Parliament to show that a similar case there had not been pressed. It would be a wise thing to press this matter no further. The Hon J. Bbyob agreed in the opinion just expressed that they should depart in peace and sin no more- That was not only his own opinion, but he believed of every one of his colleagues. No doubt the allegations had been made in the heat of debate. Now that they had arrived at this stage, he thought the House might fairly expect that the charges would be withdrawn. The slightest expression of regret from the member for Auokland Oity West would at once end everything. Mr DAB_AYn_H said there was a principle underlying this question. It was whether or not a member was to be deterred from expressing what he believed to be the honest truth by fear of the consequences. He would be unworthy of a seat in the House if he refrained from giving expression to his conviotions. It was a paoked Committee to whom the investigation was remitted. [The Sfbakbb called Mr Dargaville to order, and he withdrew the word " packed."] The report of the Committee was a most unfair, one-sided one, and not in accordance with the evidenoe. That was his opinion ; he did not care what the opinion of others might be. There had' been no even-handed holding of the scales of jostioo in the enquiry. He quoted largely from the evidenoe, and submitted that every | important part of the oharge he had made was fully supported. The evidenoe showed that the Treasurer was a party to the transaction with the Bank. It had been attempted to be shown that the Insurance Commissioner had - power to make the investment on his own responsibility. . No one who knew the two men, the overbearing oharacter of the Treasurer on the one hand, and the weak, obsequious, sycophantic Commissioner, oould doubt but ; that the former was cognisant of the investment. He quoted from "The Publio Bevenues '

Aot, 1878," to show that this class of invtstment wa» illegal. The Commissioner would not have dared to make such an investment had he not had the concurrence of the Treasurer. He was fuly convinced that the Treasurer had unduly favoured that institution, and, holding as he did such opinions he was not to be deterred from expressing them. He had aoted from a sense of duty, and in Hs own mind he felt he would nob oxobange plaoe with the men who were trying to screen themselves from the consequences of their misdeeds, and had attempted in this matter to work out his politioal ruin. He pointed out the discrepancy in tbe statements of witnesses, despite the faot that they knew beforehand the subjects on whioh they wero to be examined. The Treasurer was in possession of the opinion of the late Attorney- General and prosent Solici-tor-General that these investments were illegal, and yet, in the face of that knowledge, he must bs held to have made this investment. A further opinion from tbe present Solicitor-General was taken since these proceedings began, whioh confirmed the foregoing opinion as to the illegality of the deposit. He must therefore have known that his aotion was illegal and it waa on the knowledge of that that he (Mr Dargaville) founded his oharge. Again, in the Publio Bevenues Act just passed there waa a olause making »uch deposits legal. He oould have no stronger evidenoe of the illegality of what had previously been done. It might be that the Treasurer interpreted the law in a different way, but then he (Mr Dargaville) had the same right to his interpretation, and if if the free expression of opinion was to be stifled by the fear of a Committee's investigation they might bid farewell to the liberties of the people; Government had tried to gag tho free expression of the opinions of the representatives of the people. He challenged them to follow up this report to its legitimate issue, and declare his seat vaoant. He would then have an appeal to j his constituents, and then they would find who was in the rie;ht. To stop at merely adopting the reportjwould be pusillanimous, and deserve contempt. He would, on this single question of politioal corruption, meet before his constituents the best man the potential ring oould bring against him. He supposed, however, that Major Atkinson would be satisfied with being white 'Wathed by Mr Mason and his servile following. All the independent membsrs had already gone away. When he re-oalled all the political corruptions of whioh this Government had been guilty, he waa amazsd at his own moderation. He absolutely refused to withdraw a single word or express a single regret. H» believed he was justified in even going further, and hs defied ths Government, and was prepared to aooept any consequences. Any decision of that Houao ou the mattor, he would treat with the contumely whioh, „to bis mind, it would deserve. Mr Baebok hoped Government would aooept the amendment. The question was then put. The House divided 1— Atbs, 30; Sobs, 17. The amendment being thus lost, the motion for the adoption of the report was put, when all who had voted in the minority in the previous division, exoept Messrs Barron and White, withdrew. Major Atkinson also withdrew. Mr Babbon demanded a division, when the motion was oarried by 29 to 2. The House then, at 10.80, adjourned to. 3 p m. on Saturday for prorogation. 'ihe following was the division list on the previous question : — Atbs, 30 — Messrs Beetham, Bryos, W. G. Buohanan, Conolly, Dick, Dodson, Driver, Hobbs, Hurst, Hursthouse, 0. J. Johnston, W. W. Johnston, Kelly, Levestam, Mackenzie, Mason, Morris, Pearson, Petrie, Postlethwaite, BoUetton, Shaw, Shephard, Stevens, Trimble, Watt, Whitaker, J. B. Whyte, J. G. Wilson. Nobs, 17— Messrs Barron, J. 0. Brown, J. Buohanan, Daniel, Feldwick, Sir G. Groy, Messrs Harris, Hutchison, Joyce, J. M'Ken-ie, Montgomery, Seddon, Shoehan, Shrims-i, Smith, Turnbull, W. White