BARKING AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5347, 27 August 1895, Page 2

BARKING AFFAIRS.

{From the Lyttelton Times.) It is satisfactory to learn that the report which. the Banking Committee will present to both Houses of Parliament this evening has been framed withdut any appeal to the political sympathies of its authors. This fact encourages us to believe that there is no truth in the rumour that Ministers intend to make their proposals a question of policy and to employ all the power of the party machine to secure their acceptance. There is not the slightest need for the adoption of such a course. The stability of the Bank of New Zealand is doubly assured by the State guarantee ; there is no ground for public alarm, and there is no danger of a financial panic. Under hese circumstances the members f both Houses should be left at full iberty to vote upon the Ministerial proposals in accordance with their untrammelled opinions of what is required in the interests of the country. The welfare of the people as a whole must be the paramount consideration, and not the interests of any class. Parliament should remember that the State credit has been proved sufficient to avert a crisis, and no fear of panic or disaster need paralyse the judgment of members or lead them to record a vote which they would afterwards regret. We earnestly hope that the matters that have engaged the attention of the Joint Committee will be determined wisely and well, without any recourse to undue infinance, and with ont the introduction of political differences. It would be absolutely criminal to decide a question of such vast national importance by an appeal to party allegiance.