THE BANK OF MEW ZEALAND DIRECTORATE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1630, 23 December 1912, Page 6

THE BANK OF MEW ZEALAND DIRECTORATE.

Sir,—The recent appointment to the board of the Bank of Now Zealand .w causing quite a commotion, ulul here, there, and everywhere tho question is being asked: What is behind it all ? For it ssems incomprehensible that the Reform Government siionld at this time of day have discovered that amongst its own loyal supporters there was no one of .sufficient capacity i'Dr the position, and that they should have to take by the hand one who has for years opposed and at the party that now controls State affairs. To imagine such n thin" is an insult to intelligent adherents who have worked hard and long to bring about a muchneeded change in the guidance of the destinies of this country. Humour has it that not content with conferring on a certain individual the honour of a seat at the board, the Government has gone out of its way to command the other nominated representatives to. place this person in the chair, when—and this is openly admitced—they would not have- made such a choice if left to the exercise of their own free will. Surely this is an utterly in, : consistent step on the- part of a. Government professedly out for the destruction of patronage It has been specially stated tlint the appointment only holds good until March 31, and it may bo that there are circumstances that necessitated a stopgap arrangement of this nature, but there is such a mysterious air about the whole matter that a large section of the public, including Parliamentary supporters of the Government, will press for further information. Perhaps you, sir, as representing a journal which, by its able advocacy of the cause of reform, and exposure of previous maladministration, has conlri- i buted so largely to the long-wished-for chango of Government, may be- able to enlighten the public on this interesting matter. At all events, having so materially assisted to place tho present Government in power, it is to bp hoped that you will keep them in the middle of the road and so prevent them from blindly rushing to an ignominious end.—l am, etc.. INTERESTED. [Wo are not in a position to throw any light on the questions rained by our correspondent. At the time of the appointment we voiced our surprise, and we are still unenlightened. The rumour that, tho Government "commanded" its nominated representatives in the matter of the election of an acting-chairman is plainly erroneous. The Government'has no power to issue commands on the subject.]