[Peess Association Report ] The Hon T. W. Hialop said he had in tended to make a statement to the House when the report of the Hutchison Committee was brought up that afternoon, but he had missed his opportunity, and he should now do so. Referring to the accusations of tbe member for Waltotara, he said that the Government had tried . its best to obtain tbe most effeotive tribunal to go into these charges, and, a committee was at last agreed upon. That committee, however, had reported that they were not able to present any report to the House on ,the accusations of tbe ' member for Waitotara. The committee had asked for a very large power, which tbe House did not see fit to gradt it. Tbe Government having referred the mattei to a select committee, refrained from mating any comment on it while it wag tub judice, but tbe o her night the charges were reiterated, and he (Mr Hislop) had then offered to Mr Hutchison to make his charges outside the House, but he had made no response to that offer. There was no doubt that constitutionally the House should have been the judges of its own Ministers, and it was to be re . gtotted that tbe members of tbe commit* tee bad not seen their way to go on with their deliberation?. Tbe Government bad , now come to the conclusion that they bad failed to obtain any satisfactory inquiry Into tbe charges made against them, and they were aow determined to take their own courso without oon'ulting tbe Op position or anyone else. There were three courses open to thb Government, and be hoped the House would excuse him from now stating what course they would take. He would take an early opportunity of doing so when the Government had come to a conclusion on the matte?. He went

on to refer Jo the accusation made against ( the Government by Mr Hutcbison, The ''' first charge was that the Government had created an abnormal finance for the sake of untying the coffers of the Bank of Hew



Notioei.
