LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1896, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 9. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The debate on the motion to set up the Banking; Committee was continued by the Hon. Mr Kelly, who contended that the responsibility of the banking legislation rested on the whole Legiilature, and upheld the proposed scope of the enquiry. Hon. Mr Pharazyn supported the suggestion for the electing of a committee by ballot. The Minister for Education made a strong defence of Mr Ward in reply to the Hon. Ormond's speech of the previous day. Mr Ward's affairs had been brought into discussion without proper warrant. He excused Mr Ormond of attacking the private affairs of the Colonial Treasurer on party lines. Mr Ward had neglected his own business in the service of the Colony. He asked how it was that the Dunedin Court was inclined to go out of its way to ruin the shareholders. Tbe present position of the Ward Company was due to tbe machinations of the Opposition party. Hon. Mr Reynolds said the only way of getting at the bottom of the matter was by a Royal Commission. In the opinion of every shareholder in the Colonial Bank Judge Williams only did his duty. Hon. Mr Ormond denied having indulged in personalities. He was talking of the public act of a public officer of the Colony. Hon. Mr McGregor was surprised at the decision of the Supreme Court being canvassed as it had been by the Hon. Mr Walker. The feeling down south was that the whole proceedings in connection with the committee were a farce. If the Committee were appointed by ballot the effect on the public would be a most salutory one. Colonel Whitmore thought dissatisfaction would be caused if the Committee were composed of only one party. Hon, Mr Stevens thought the scope of the Committee was too wide, while the investigation of the affairs of the Assets Realisation Board was not even proposed. The worst that could be said against the Government was that it was misled. Only misfortune would result to the Bank if the inquiry as proposed were made. On a ballot being taken the following committee were elected: —Messrs Walker (the mover), Stevens, Ormond, Fharazyn, Bowen, Cartwright, Bonner, Kelly, Shrimski, Richardson. Hon. Mr Shrimski announced that he resigned from the Committee, but the Speaker said be would consider the matter. Hon. Mr G. Jones resumed the debate on the order of reference of the Banking Committee. After further discussion the second clause, which allowed the enquiry to go back as far as 1888, was struck out by 22 votes to 10. The list was : — Ayes (for clause) 10 —Scotland, Arkwright, Eerr, Rigg, Jones, Reedes, W, Montgomery, Feldwick, Mac Lean, 0. Walker. Noes (against clause), 22—Reynolds, L. Walker, Richardson, Baillie, Whitmore, Acland, Barnicoat, McGregor, Swanson, Shrimski, Williams, Jackson, Jennings, Kenny, Bonnar, Peacock, Grace, Ormond, Stevens, Johnston, Bolt, Holmes. ■ In clause 4, Hon. Mr McGregor carried an amendment allowing unofficial negotiations between the Banks and the members of the Ministry to be subject for investigation. The remaining clauses passed, and the Council adjourned at 9.5 p.m.