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1931. NE W ZEAL A N D.

PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. F. LYE, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the. Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 21st Day ov July, 1931. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all petitions from M to Z that may be referred to it; to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in such form and manner as shall appear to it best suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to this House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereon to this House; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of the Rev. Clyde Carr, Mr. Dickie, Mr. Kyle, Mr. Lye, Mr. Makitanara, Mr. J. N. Massey, Colonel McDonald, Mr. Samuel, Mr. Semple, and the Mover." —(Hon. Mr. Atmore, for Hon. Mr. Taverner.) Tuesday, the 28th Day of July, 1931. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the session of 1930 be again referred to the same Committee as they were referred to during the said session, and that all petitions received during the first session of 1931 be dealt with as if they had been received this session." —(Eight Hon. Mr. Forbes.) Friday, the 14th Day oe August, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of S. H. G. Richmond be referred direct to the Public Petitions 51 to Z Committee." —(Mr. Williams.) Thursday", the Bth Day oe October, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of J. J. Meikle be referred direct to the Public Petitions M to Z Committee."— (Mr. Mijhns.) Wednesday, the 14th Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of J. S. Pullan be referred direct to the Public Petitions M to Z Committee."— (Mr. Fraser.) Thursday, the 29th Day of October, 1931. Ordered, " That the report of the Public Petitions M to 7, Committee on the petition of J. H. Rankin be referred back to the Committee for further consideration."—(Rev. M.v. Carr.) Monday, the 2nd Day of November, 1931. Ordered, " That the petition of the Taranaki Electric-power Board be referred direct to the Public Petitions M to Z Committee." —(Mr. Wilkinson.)

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INDEX.

REPORTS.

No. 1. —Petition of Samuel Turkington, of Auckland. Praying for an inquiry into alleged misrepresentation and issue of false deeds. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 20th August, 1931.

No. 16.--Petition of R. D. Mttkeo, of Wairoa, Praying for compensation in connection with railway accident. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 20th August, 1931.

No. 37.—Petition of F. W. Weight and Another, of Wellington. Praying for a refund of land-tax paid in error. I am directed that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.

No. 39.—Petition of T. P. Wooding, of Ashburton. Praying for a refund of overpaid land-tax. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 20th August, 1931.

No. 56.—Petition of A. G. McCulloch, of Wellington. Praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of her late husband's service in the Pensions Department. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931,

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No - j Petitioner, Ac. Page. 84 Abel Smeeton, Ltd., and 212 others .. 3 Final report .. .. .. g 240/30 Mayr, H. .. 3 158 Meikle, J.J. .. '' ' | 4 144 Meldrum, David .. 4 13 Miller, J. .. .. .. " 4 16 Munro, R. D. . . .. .. 2 131 McCubbin, H. J. .. .. 5 56 McCulloeh, Agnes G. .. .. 2 132 MoDongall, J. J. P. .. .. .. 4 143/30 Nelson, 0. F. .. .. \ 3 40 O'Regan, P. J. .. .. ., 3 44 Pilling, Mary .. .. .. 4 130 Point-on, Christina .. .. .. 5 27 Power, Michael .. .. .. 3 169 Pullan, J. S. .. .. .. 5 84 Radio-dealers .. .. .. 3 137 Rankin, J. H. (two reports) .. .. 5

No. Petitioner, &c. Page. Jl I ' ___ I 89 Richmond, S. H. G. .. .. 4 78 Savident, Daniel .. .. .. 3 52 Scurr, T., Ltd. .. .. .. 4 160 Shirrifis, Janet McN. .. .. 5 84 Smeeton, Ltd., Abel, and 212 others .. 3 10/31 Smithson, Ellen M. .. .. 3 (Sess. 1) Special report (re Chairman) .. .. 5 Special report (re Clerk) .. .. 6 45 Stratford, W. G. .. .. 3 186 Taranaki Electric-power Board .. 5 2/31 Tomkies, E. A. .. .. .. 4 (Sess. 1) 1 Turkington, S. .. .. .. 2 161 Wairoa Racing Club (Incorporated) .. 4 6/31 Warner, E. J. .. .. . . 3 (Sess. 1) 39 Wooding, T. P. .. .. .. 2 34 Woodley, E. M. .. .. 3 37 Wright, F. W., and another .. . . 2

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No. 34.—Petition of E. M. Woodley, of Petone. Praying for compensation for loss of her husband. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.'

No. 40.—Petition of P. J. O'Regan, of Wellington. Praying for enactment of legislation making shipowners liable for damages in respect of injury to sea-travelling passengers. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th August, 1931.

No. 78.—Petition of Daniel Savident, of Kaipara. Praying for compensation for expenses incurred whilst Harbourmaster at Kaipara. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd September, 1931.

No. 45. —Petition of W. G. Stratford, of Wellington. Praying for inquiry into his non-promotion and status as a Meat Inspector in the Department of Agriculture. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd September, 1931.

No. 143/30.—Petition of 0. F. Nelson, of Auckland. Praying that the tenth report on the administration of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa be not accepted in its present form. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 2nd September, 1931.

No. 6/31 (Sess. 1). —Petition of E. J. Warner, of Te Awamutu. Praying for a compassionate allowance in lieu of blind pension. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration, with a recommendation that the law be amended so that a blind person absent from New Zealand for medical treatment does not forfeit his right to a pension. 2nd September, 1931.

No. 84.—Petition of Abel Smeeton, Ltd., and 212 Others. Praying that Electric-power Boards be restrained from trading in radio sets and equipment. I am directed to report that, as a question of policy is raised, the petition should, be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th September, 1931.

No. 27.—Petition of Michael Power, of Whangarei. Praying for reinstatement in the Police Force, and compensation. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1931.

No. 10/31 (Sess. I).—Ellen M. Smithson, of Mount Koskill. Praying that a settlement in connection with a land transaction be set aside. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th September, 1931.

No. 240/30.—Petition of Henry Mayk, of Masterton. Pbaying for investigation into various grievances at the hands of certain people, and for compensation. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 9th October, 193].

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No. 44.—Petition of Mary Pilling, of Auckland. Praying for enactment of legislation giving her the right to reopen certain Court proceedings. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 9th October, 1931.

No. 13.—Petition of J. Miller, of Wellington. Praying for amendment of the law relating to land-agents. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a recommendation that it be made necessary for any land-agent to hold any deposit in trust for the purchaser until the transfer to him of the property involved is completed. 14th October, 1931.

No. 89.—Petition of S. H. G. Richmond, of Puha, Gisborne. Praying for reduction of mortgage on farm. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 20th October, 1931.

No. 52.—Petition of T. Scurr, Ltd., of Dunedin. Praying for refund of legacy duty. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should bo referred to the Government for consideration. 20th October, 1931.

No. 144. —Petition of David Meldrum, of Swanson. Praying that the Waitemata County Council or the Public Works Department be compelled to fulfil an alleged undertaking. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 20th October, 1931.

No. 158—Petition of J. J. Meiklb, of Auckland. Praying that several recommendations of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee be given effect to. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with the suggestion that it should consider granting the petitioner a suitable annuity of not less than £4 per week. 20th October, 1931.

No. 2/31 (Sess.'l).—Petition of Ē. A. Tomkies, of Wellington. Praying that a break between his service in the Defence Department and on joining the Railway Department be treated as leave without pay. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 20th October, 1931.

No. 132.—Petition of J. J. P. McDougall, of Auckland. Praying for redress on account of alleged injustice. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 20th October, 1931.

No. 16] .—Petition of the Waieoa Racing Club (Incorporated), of Wairoa. Praying for remission of taxation and penalties owing to the State. I am directed to report that, in view of the special circumstances revealed by the evidence, the Committee is of the opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th October, 1931.

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No. 131.—Petition of H. J. McCubbin, of Golden Downs. Pbaying for payment for stores supplied to men engaged on construction works on GlenhopeMurchison Railway. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 29th October, 1931.

No. 130. —Petition of Christina Pointon, of Murchison. Pbaying that access destroyed by Murchison Fjarthquake, 1929, be restored, or, alternatively, that compensation be paid. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 29th October, 1931.

No.- 137.—Petition of J. H. Rankin, of Motueka. Pbaying that auctioneer's commission be paid, him by State Advances Superintendent for sale of property at Motueka. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make 29th October, 1931. [Referred back to Committee, 29th October, 1931.]

No. 137.—Petition of J. H. Rankin, of Motueka (Second Report). Peaying that auctioneer's commission be paid him by State Advances Superintendent for sale of property at Motueka. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 7th November, 1931.

No. 169.—Petition of J. S. Pullan, of Wellington. Pbaying for readmission to the Public Service, or other alternative. I am directed to report that, in view of the most distressing circumstances of the petitioner, the Committee is of the opinion the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with the suggestion that a compassionate allowance be granted 7th November, 1931.

No. 186.—Petition of the Tabanaki Electbic-power Boakd. Pbaying for inquiry into issue of license to New Plymouth Borough Council to supply electric-power to certain districts. I am directed to report that the member in charge of the petition having expressed a desire to withdraw same, the Committee recommends that he be allowed to do so. 7th November, 1931.

No. 160.—Petition of Janet McNaugiiton Shibkiits, of Christchurch. Praying for amendment of the Family Protection Act. I am directed to report that, as a matter of policy is involved, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 7th November, 1931.

Special Repokt. I have the honour to report that the Public Petitions M to Z Committee desires to express its sincere appreciation of the able manner in which the Chairman, Mr. F. Lye, has presided over and conducted the business brought before the Committee during the session. His courteous and tactful manner in dealing with members and witnesses has helped the Committee to arrive at its conclusions in an impartial manner ; and the Committee further desires that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee and be reported to the House. H. S. S. Kyle, 7th November, 1931. Member of the Committee.

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Special Keport. I have the honour to report that the Committee desires to record its appreciation of the efficient manner in which the Clerk of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee, Mr. E. A. Dobbie, has carried out his duties during the session ; and, further, that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee and be reported to the House. 7th November, 1931.

Final Eepoet. I have the honour to report that the Public Petitions M to Z Committee, consisting of ten members, has held fifteen meetings during the session ; the average attendance of members at each meeting was six. The following table shows the disposal of the business that came before the Committee : —■ Petitions referred to the Committee .. .. .. • • .. 30 Petitions dealt with .. .. .. .. . • ■ • .. 30 Eeports presented to the House .. .. .. • ■ .. 34 Petitions referred for favourable consideration .. .. .. .. 7 Petitions referred for consideration .. .. .. • • .. 5 Petitions given no recommendation .. .. .. • • .. 18 Petition withdrawn .. .. .. . • • • • ■ .. 1 7th November, 1931. F- Lye, Chairman.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (370 copies), £5 10s.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinnbk, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93l.

Price 6d.~\

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