L—s

2

REPORTS. No. 88. —Petition of the Nelson Harbour Board. Praying that the payment of the Government subsidy be not discontinued. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Railways Committee for consideration. 25th August, 1920.

Special Report : Late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. I am directed to report that the Lands Committee, of which the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald was for so long a distinguished member, desires to express its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him in the best interests of the Dominion by the discharge of the manifold duties devolving upon members of this important Committee. His practical knowledge, and his earnest desire to promote New Zealand interests in matters relating to lands, were always most helpful, and he exercised a very wide influence on the deliberations and conclusions of this Committee. This Committee now begs to tender its heartfelt sympathy to the widow and family of the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald in their great bereavement, and desires to place on record its appreciation of his valuable services as a member of the Committee for man}' years past. Ist September, 1920.

No. 142. —Petition of J. Francis and 77 Others; and No. 143, Petition of R. L. Geddes and Another. Praying for a grant of land from the Kyeburn Station. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to these petitions. 9th September, 1920.

No. 223. —Petition of the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Te Aroha; and No. 224, Petition of H. Jackson and 331 Others. Praying that the holders of business- and residence-site leases in Te Aroha be granted the option to acquire the freehold. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matter of these two petitions has been dealt with in the Te Aroha Crown Leases Bill, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1920.

No. 131.— Petition of D. M. Simpson and 43 Others. Praying that the tenure of their holdings be altered so as to enable them to acquire the freehold. I am directed to report that the Committee considers this is a matter of policy, and therefore should be dealt with by the Government; but the Committee is of opinion that, provided the proceeds from the sales of the lands referred to in this petition are reinvested in Government bonds or in some other Government investment, and the proceeds devoted to the same purposes as the rents of endowment lands are now Riven to, (lie Committee considers that such legislation would be in the interests of the Dominion ; and that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 9th September, 1920.

No. 199.—Petition of Catherine C. Peters. Praying that section 50 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1919, be repealed. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 15th September, 1920.

Akarana and Waitemata Counties Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the Bill be not allowed to proceed, the Government having promised to appoint a Commission to inquire into the whole question. 15th September, 1920.

New Plymouth Recreation and Racecourse Reserve Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 15th September, 1920.

Whakatane Harbour Amendment Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. « 15th September, 1920.

Te Aboha Crown Leases Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 21st September, 1920.