THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 78, 27 July 1896, Page 2

THE BANKING COMMITTEE.

The deliberations of the Committee set up by the House are remarkable for the number of " scenes " that they have given rise to. The evident desire of both sides is apparently to obtain political capital, and in endeavoring to procure this much time is wasted in wrangling. It is doubtless a very delicate matter to disciiminate between what is relevant and irrelevant to the issue, but there is no doubt that the wranglings on this matter are not calculated to facilitate the work or expedite it. At the present rate of progress, and with the large order, it will take the Committee several months to make its inquiry. It is quite clear that if the Committee is to serve any good purpose, the Order of Reference must be narrowed down so as to fit in with the time at the disposal of the Committee. As matters now stand, the issue will be obscured and the work of the Committee will prove abortive. The country is not desirous of knowing, and should not be informed, of the private affairs of individuals, but what the country does require to know is, Was there any deception practised over the banking legislation of 1894 ? If this is answered in the affirmative, then the country wants to know who is responsible ? The private affairs of Mr Ward, Sir Robert Stout, Mr Guthrie, and several others should have no interest to the public. We hope that after the storms have blown over the Committee will settle down to its proper functions and carry them through with appropriate despatch. The perpetual political bickerings are nauseating to the people, who can see through the whole game.