The Hastings Standard Published Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1896. THE BANK OFFICIALS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 47, 20 June 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1896. THE BANK OFFICIALS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Now that Mr Ward has disappeared for a time from the public gaze to slowly digest the carefully-worded and extremely fair judgment of Mr Justice Williams, we desire to know whether all the persons who are implicated in that verdict arc to be made answerable for their conduct. Mr Ward is not the only sinner. How stand Messrs Watson and Mackenzie ? They were responsible officers of the Colonial Bank, and are now in prominent positions in the Bank of New Zealand. The decision of Judge Williams amounts practically to a condemnation of their conduct while associated with the Colonial Bank, and we want to know if any steps are to be taken to give these gentlemen an opportunity of vindicating themselves. The reflections cast upon these two responsible officers of the Bank of New Zealand demand thai; they shall either clear themselves of the imputations or be dismissed from office. * In any case the position is such that we think they ought to be-suspended pending a settlement of the affair. Mr Watson, as President of the Bank of New Zealand, holds a State appointment, and State kiterference

will be necessary to bring him to account. Why has not the Government moved in this matter ? How very promptly did Ministers act when the report of the Royal Commission on the Government Printing Office reached them. Three printers with records of long service were speedily dismissed because certain charges made by thorn were proved to be frivolous. We ask for the same prompt action in this banking affair. Mr Mackenzie stands in a totally different position to Mr Watson. He is answerable for his conduct to the Directors, and while the Government cannot directly take action with regard to him, they can, however, instruct the Director representing the Government to move in the matter. The Directors of the Colonial Bank ought also to be made accountable for their past management, but as they were the nominees of the shareholders the time and mode of bringing them to account rests with the shareholders. We firmly believe that a thorough and full account will be demanded from all those who have contributed to the peculiar and unfortunate condition in which the Colonial Hank appears to have been on the 81st August, lHij-'j. It is none the less our duty to keep the matter well before the public.