HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 64, 15 November 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

Mr Allen moved the third rending of the Bank of New Zealand Bill.

Mr Buddo complained tlfat the House had not assisted them to eontro' the enormous profit-earning power of the Bank. He eluded the Government with merely adopting the policy of the directors.

Dr. Newman put in a plea for the "lerks. He asked the Prime Minister to inquire into the conditions tinder which they worked.

' Mr H. G. El] denounced the regulation in force in the Bank prohibiting Anyone in*"the service of tile jlanl? from marrying unless he is in receipt >f £2OO per annum. Sir. J. Ward said that the Hous!iad confirmed, in almost every particular, what the Government desired to do in connection with the Bank. Ho would leave the mode of proposals to the shareholders to buy them out. Had negotiations been possible hr would have been prepared to give the shareholders £2,000,000 'to acquire their interests.

Mr W. A. Veitch declared that the service conditions at present in force in the Bank were not such as should exist under the circumstances of the Bank and the country. The Hon. J. Allen, in reply, said

that lie was not prepared to make any proposal to buy out the- shareholders in the Bank, because the business of the departments of the State were totally different. There was also a 'danger of political influence creeping into the management of the Bank if it was owned by the State, and that could.only result in disaster. So far as the staff was concerned, he would discuss the position with the Board and see what could lie done.

The third reading of the Bill was* then carried.

POST ANJ) TELEGRAPH BILL

The' Hon. 11. HJ Rhodes moved the third reading of the Post and Telegraph Amendment" Bill.

Sir Joseph Ward said that they were now reaping the 'fruits of the removal of officers of this important department from ministerial and par'iamentry control, a'mV there was grave discontent in the service at the fact that they now had tio means of voicing their grievances. fISVv