THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5690, 8 October 1896, Page 3

THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

DISCUSSING THE EEPOET. rP.ER Press Association.! WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. When the Banking Committee met, it adjourned till noon to await the report of the sub-committee. On resuming, the Chairman asked the Committee to decide ■whether or not the draft report prepared by the sub-committee should be discussed in public. Mr Hutchison expressed the opinion that the report should be discussed in public, and contended that there should be no secrecy about the Committee's proceedings. The Chairman said it was desirable that the report should be considered in camera. Mr Montgomery moved that the Committee deliberate. Mr Hutchison' contended that the report was not one on which any interest depended, and repeated his assertion that there should be no secrecy about the Committee's proceedings. The Chairman said there was no secrecy about this business. The sub-committee had been engaged night and day in preparing what it believed was a very good report, based on the evidence tendered during the past three months. It would not be to the benefit of the public to get a hashed-up report of proposals to amend the report. Mr Hutchison thought that the Press and the public of the colony should know the development of the matter. Mr Seddon said Mr Hutchison had been inconsistent respecting the. Committee's report, as a few days ago he had moved that there should be no report at all. Mr Hutchison said he had not been inconsistent, and only desired that the country should be made aware of the evolutionary process by which the final report would be arrived at. The Hon J. M'Kenzie said he had been one who had insisted on the presence of the Press at the Committee's proceedings, but the Committee had now arrived at a stdge when it was necessary- that the report which wa3 to be presented to the House should not be given piecemeal to the people of the colony. On a division Mr Montgomery's motion that the Committee deliberate was carried by 9to 1, Mr Hutchison being the only dissentient. The Press representatives then withdrew, and the Committee proceeded *to deliberate on the sub-committee's draft report.