The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY. JUNE 18, 1896.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 294, 18 June 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY. JUNE 18, 1896.

I THE BANK ENQUIRY COMMITTEE

Notice has been given by the Premier that he will wove ' That a select com mittee of eight members be appointed to examine and report upon the following matters : (1) The position of the Bank of New Zealand, Bank of New' Zealand Estates Company (Limited), Auckland Agricultural Company (Limited), and Colonial Bank of New Zealand, both prior and subsequent to the banking legislation of 1894 and 1895, with special reference to all the circumstances leading up to that legislation, the fulness and accuracy of the information then disclosed by the di , rectors and officers of those institutions and the capacity and fitness of those directors and officers. (2) All such other matters as the committee deem necessary or expedient in the premises. The committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to confer with any similar committee appointed by the legislative Council; the committee to report within twenty-one days, and to consist of '■■ I th»i- Hon. Mr ; 3. McKjenzie,: the;|^^<iiptain Rus--BelV (^Mibssrs ;P:nkertpn, Buchanan, ; Mille^Graham,,Lang, and the mover." ' Without making any invidious com-' parisbtts^ ;we;saj 'i ; at.;once? ifj the.

members named the work will be badly done, but there is a hope the House! will not adopt the motion without vigorous protest. We do not wish to imply that the appointment of this committee is unnecessary, because we have not at our command the facts of the case as known to those in the inner circle, but we say without fear of contradiction that the opportunity the incident gives of securing delay, has with suspicious alacrity been taken advantage of by that shrewd Parliamentary tactician, Mr Seddon. It will be interesting to notice when the motion is brought before the Legislative Council, the position taken up by the Hon. George McLean, who in the beginning was such a power in bringing about the "amalgamation," but who ever since has kept himself in the background. It is of course understood that all evidence taken before a Select Committee of the House and documents presented to such Committee which have not been reported to the House, are not published, either by a member of such Committeo or by any other person. The Committee has only power to report its opinion to the House. Still " things leak out," no matter how prudent and secretive the members may be. As an outcome of the Ward affair, we are advised from Auckland that a meeting of shareholders of the Colonial Bank will be held to morrow to consider the adviseableness of taking steps to co operate with those in Wellington who are moving to institute proceedings in reference to the transactions exposed in the Court at Dunedin. Taking it all together the Government has raised a hornet's nest round its ears. For these and other reasons we think the names mentioned for the Enquiry Committre are not suitable ones, as men of commanding ability and some commercial experience are the best fitted for the position. We do not for a moment imply that each individual is not competent and fit to become governor and ruler of JBarataria tomorrow, but we wish our readers to understand that collectively a task is proposed to be given them which they are not qualified to fulfil.