AUCKLAND PETITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 9

AUCKLAND PETITIONS.

COMPENSATION SOUGHT.

COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

[bt telegraph.SPEClAL coiuiespo.vden-t.}

Wellington, Wednesday. The petition of Mr. William A. Johnston, of Auckland, for compensation for expenses incurred in defending a charge made against him in the Magistrate's and Supreme Court, was reported upon in the House to-day by the A to L Public Petitions Committee, which recommended that it be referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

Mr. J. Pa vne stated that the petitioner had taken a fairly prominent part in the strike, and that alter that he was a marked man. Some time afterwards he was arrested on a charge of vagrancy. When he arrived at the police station he produced .some money that he had in his belt, and also showed that he had a considerable sum in the bank. The charge of vagrancy tvas then abandoned, and he was charged with using obscene language. He was tried twice on this charge, and on each occasion the jury failed to agree. Tlio man was well " known in Auckland, where he had lived for 40 years, and was able to produce testimonials as 'to character from several well-known citizens. The report was adopted. The petition of Mr. John I)evit,t. jun., of Hamilton, formerly employed, principally as drain digger, at Ruakura State farm, who asked for compassionate allowance to enable him and his family to exist without the charity of friends, was reported upon to-day by the Agricultural Committee. Petitioner stated that last June he became ill, and had since been unable to work. A doctor had certified that he was suffering ■'from incurable heart disease brought about by very laborious work. He had no income, and was dependent upon the assistance of friends. Petitioner, who has a wife and four children, states that he understood that he had no legal claim against the Government for compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act. • Mr. J. A. Young, who presented the petition, strongly urged that the recommendation of the committee, which was favourable to petitioner, should be given effect to. Petitioner was highly respected by all who knew him, and the case was a very deserving one. Mr. Young's remark* were endorsed by Messrs. H. Poland, J. Anstey. and G. Hunter, chairman of the committee, and the report was adopted.