Captain Russell : They could not finish in a week work which should take months. He would not receive ex part^ statements from the officials of the bank. He would insist on knowing everything connected with the bank and the Assets Company, and if he were not satisfied he would not append his name to the Committee's report. The request for this Committee should have come from the bank and the Assets Company, and not from the Govern ment, for if the Committee's report were damaging to the institution it would not greatly strengthen their claim upon the colony. — (Hear, hear.) Every official who appeared should have to answer every ques tion of whatever nature that was put to him, for tbe reports of these officials had been so misleading for years past as to apparently have been intended to mislead. There were former Ministers on the Committee who were responsible for what had happened last year, and they were now desirous of throw ing the responsibility on the House. These Ministers would go on to the Committee with their minds already made up, and they would have a Government supporter as chairman.
The Premier : I will not have a Govern ment supporter for chairman.
