PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8523, 28 August 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(ByTelegraph—Own Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Last Night. The greater part of the afternoon sitting was taken up discussing the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Mr Macintosh, late General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, who seeks payment for services as auditor during the time he held the position of General Manager of the Bank; The Committee reported that the petitioner had no claim. On a motion that the report be laid ' on the table, a long and somewhat acrimonious discussion followed. * Messrs James Allen and W. £'. Massey inferred that the Government, through their nominees, were responsible for Mr Macintosh's retirement, but the general trend of the discussion was that the petitioner had not been unfairly treated. Sir J. G. Ward vehemently denied that the Government had anj thing to j do with Mr Mcintosh's retirement, and declared that the decision of the Directors was unanimous. He eulogised the services rendered by Mr Macintosh, and said he was entitled to the fullest acknowledgment in that direction. He however, thought • that when Mr Macintosh decided to accept the general managership of the Bank he was making a mistake, but the Government in no way opposed his taking the position. Eventually the motion was carried. At the evening sitting the third Imprest Supply Bill, amounting this time to £666,000, was put through, all stages. Replying to Mr W. F. Massey, who complained that the Customs officers refused to give a rebate on items in the tariff which had been reduced since the first provision was introduced, the Treasurer said that no rebates could be given until Parliament gave authority. Discussion arose on various subjects, and the Premier appealed to members to assist him in getting on with the bush ess, otherwise they would have to go on until Christmas, and return at the beginning of the year to complete the work.